New Electricity 42% Wind Says DOE
Last year almost half the new electricity capacity added to the grid (42%) was wind power, according to Secretary Chu of the U.S. Department of Energy.
Texas led all states with 7,118 MW of total wind capacity installed, followed by Iowa (2791 MW) and California (2517 MW). Seven states now have more than 1,000 MW installed, and 13 have more than 500 MW.
$16 Billion invested in wind projects in 2008 made the United States the world leader in added capacity last year, says This the fourth consecutive year that the United States has been the world’s fastest-growing wind power market.
Wind power added 8,558 megawatts of new electricity to the grid - - and 8,400 new jobs to the economy.
The American Wind Energy Association estimates that now about half of the components needed for wind turbines are made in the United States.
