Examine individual changes

'{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2012}} [[File:GreenMountainWindFarm Fluvanna 2004.jpg|thumb|right|[[Brazos Wind Ranch]] in Texas.]] [[File:Barn wind turbines 0504.jpg|thumb|[[Mendota Hills Wind Farm]] in northern Illinois]] [[File:Wind Turbines in Washington State IMG 7956WMC.tif|thumb|Wind farm in Southeastern [[Washington (state)|Washington]]]] '''Wind power in the United States''' is a branch of the [[energy industry]], that has expanded quickly over the latest several years.<ref name="AWEA_2014Q4">{{cite web | url= http://awea.files.cms-plus.com/4Q2014%20AWEA%20Market%20Report%20Public%20Version.pdf | title= AWEA 4th quarter 2014 Public Market Report|date = January 2014| publisher= [[American Wind Energy Association]] (AWEA)| accessdate=February 1, 2014 }}</ref> As of the end of 2015 the U.S. [[Nameplate capacity|nameplate generating capacity]] for [[wind power]] was nearly 75,000 megawatts (MW).<ref name="AWEA_2016PR" /> This capacity is exceeded only by [[Wind power in China|China]] and the [[Wind power in the European Union|European Union]] and is followed by [[Wind power in India|India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gwec.net/wp-content/uploads/vip/GWEC-Global-Wind-2015-Report_April-2016_22_04.pdf|title=GWEC, Global Wind Report 2015, Annual Market Update.|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> Thus far, wind power's largest growth in capacity was in 2012, when 11,895 MW of [[wind power]] was installed, representing 26.5% of new power capacity. The U.S. wind industry has had an average annual growth of 25.8% over the latest 10 years (beginning of 2005-end of 2014).<ref name="AWEA_2014Q4" /> For calendar year 2015, the electricity produced from places somewere duh stupid [[wind power]] in the United States amounted to 190.9 [[terawatt-hour]]s, or 4.67% of all generated electrical energy. Sixteen states have installed over 1,000 MW of wind power capacityyyy with Michigan just breaking the mark in the 4th quarter of 2013.<ref name="AWEA_2013Q4">{{cite web | url= http://awea.files.cms-plus.com/FileDownloads/pdfs/AWEA%204Q2013%20Wind%20Energy%20Industry%20Market%20Report_Public%20Version.pdf| title= AWEA 4th quarter 2013 Public Market Report|date = January 2014| publisher= [[American Wind Energy Association]] (AWEA)| accessdate=February 1, 2014 }}</ref> [[Texas]], with 14,098 MW of capacity, had the most installed wind power capacity of any U.S. state at the end of 2014, and also had more under construction than any other state currently has installed.<ref name="AWEA_2014Q4" /> The [[Alta Wind Energy Center]] in California is the largest [[wind farm]] in the United States with a capacity of 1320 [[Megawatt|MW]].<ref name=terragen>[http://finance.yahoo.com/news/terra-gen-power-announces-closing-150500329.html Terra-Gen Closes on Financing for Phases VII and IX], Business Wire, April 17, 2012</ref> [[GE Energy]] is the largest domestic [[wind turbine]] manufacturer.<ref name="nine">American Wind Energy Association (2009). [http://www.awea.org/publications/reports/AWEA-Annual-Wind-Report-2009.pdf Annual Wind Industry Report, Year Ending 2008] pp. 9–10.</ref> The development of wind power in the United States has been supported primarily through a [[production tax credit]] (PTC), which pays producers on the amount of electricity produced. On January 1, 2013 the production tax credit was extended for another year.<ref name="Gerhardt">{{Cite news|last=Gerhardt|first=TinaThe U.S. Department of Energy’s report ''20% Wind Energy by 2030'' envisioned that wind power could supply 20% of all U.S. electricity, which included a contribution of 4% from [[offshore wind power]].|date=6 January 2013|title=Wind Energy Gets a Boost off Fiscal Cliff Deal|url=http://www.progressive.org/wind-energy-gets-boost-off-fiscal-cliff-deal|publisher=[[The Progressive]]}}</ref> Uncertainty about future tax benefits for wind power led some companies to relocate or close their production facilities after the production tax credit expired in 2013.<ref>{{Cite news|date=30 June 2013|title=Wind energy industry says consistent tax policy from Congress needed to avoid losing more U.S. manufacturing jobs|url=http://www.evwind.es/2013/06/30/wind-energy-industry-says-consistent-tax-policy-from-congress-needed-to-avoid-losing-more-u-s-manufacturing-jobs/34075}}</ref> In late 2015 authorities provided an extension of the PTC. The extension phases out the credit over a period of five years. The 30 percent wind and solar tax credit will extend through 2019 and then taper to 10 percent in 2022.<ref name=blooPTC>http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-17/what-just-happened-to-solar-and-wind-is-a-really-big-deal</ref> blah blah blah so much words ==Overview== [[File:U.S. Installed Wind Power Capacity-2015.svg|thumb|400px|right|Map illustrating installed wind generating capacity for U.S. states at end of 2015.]] [[File:US Monthly Wind Generated Electricity.svg|thumb|Monthly wind electric power generation in the US, 2007-2015]] [[File:US monthly wind capacity factor.svg|thumb|Average monthly capacity factors for electricity generation by utility-scale wind turbines in the United States, 2011-2015 (US Energy Information Administration data).]] {{See also|List of wind farms in the United States|History of wind power}} The first municipal use of multiple wind-electric turbines in the USA may have been a five turbine system in Pettibone, North Dakota in 1940. These were commercial Wincharger units on guyed towers.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=8yYDAAAAMBAJ&amp;pg=PA83&amp;dq=pettibone+wind&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=J4F-UuDyHcqxqQHbj4GwBw&amp;ved=0CCQQ6AEwAA Wind-Generated Electricity Lights a Whole Town, Popular Science, June, 1940]</ref> In 1980 the world's first wind farm, consisting of twenty 30&nbsp;kW wind turbines was installed at [[Crotched Mountain]], in New Hampshire.<ref>[http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/newengland/history_windfarms.asp Historic Wind Development in New England]</ref> From 1974 through the mid-1980s the United States government worked with industry to advance the technology and enable large commercial wind turbines. A series of [[NASA wind turbines]] were developed under a program to create a utility-scale wind turbine industry in the U.S., with funding from the [[National Science Foundation]] and later the [[United States Department of Energy]] (DOE). A total of 13 experimental wind turbines were put into operation, in four major wind turbine designs. This research and development program pioneered many of the multi-megawatt turbine technologies in use today, including: steel tube towers, variable-speed generators, composite blade materials, partial-span pitch control, as well as aerodynamic, structural, and acoustic engineering design capabilities. Later, in the 1980s, [[California]] provided [[tax rebate]]s for wind power. These rebates funded the first major use of wind power for utility electricity. These machines, gathered in large wind parks such as at [[Altamont Pass]] would be considered small and un-economic by modern wind power development standards. In 1985 half of the world's wind energy was generated at Altamont Pass. By the end of 1986 about 6,700 wind turbines, mostly less than 100&nbsp;kW, had been installed at Altamont, at a cost of about $1 billion, and generated about 550 million kWh/year.<ref>Over ten years the cost of electricity would be $0.18/kWh.</ref><ref>[http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.eg.12.110187.001045 The Wind Farms of the Altamont Pass Area]</ref> The U.S., as of 2016, has nearly 75 GW of installed wind power capacity.<ref name="AWEA_2016PR">{{cite web |title=U.S. number one in the world in wind energy production|url=http://www.awea.org/MediaCenter/pressrelease.aspx?ItemNumber=8463|website=www.awea.org|publisher=American Wind Energy Association|accessdate=4 March 2016}}</ref> Only China has more installed capacity.{{As of|2015|12|31}}, the five states with the most wind capacity installed were:<ref name="AWEA_2015Q4">{{cite web|title=U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2015 AWEA Market Rport|url=http://www.awea.org|website=www.awea.org|publisher=American Wind Energy Association|accessdate=30 January 2016}}</ref> *[[Wind power in Texas|Texas]] (17,713 MW) *[[Wind power in Iowa|Iowa]] (6,212 MW) *[[Wind power in California|California]] (6,108 MW) *[[Wind power in Oklahoma|Oklahoma]] (5,184 MW) *[[Wind power in Illinois|Illinois]] (3,842 MW) Twelve states now have 10 percent or more of their generation coming from wind power. Most of these are in the central plains. These states include North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Maine, Vermont, Oregon, and Idaho.<ref name="AWEA_2016PR" /> The top five states according to percentage of generation by wind in 2015 were:<ref name="AWEA_2016PR" /> * Iowa (31.3%) * [[Renewable energy in South Dakota#Wind power|South Dakota]] (25.5%) * [[Wind power in Kansas|Kansas]] (23.9%) * [[Wind power in Oklahoma|Oklahoma]] (18.4%) * [[Wind power in North Dakota|North Dakota]] (17.7%) The ten largest wind farms in the United States are: {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;" ! Project ! data-sort-type="number" | Capacity (MW) ! State |- | [[Alta Wind Energy Center]] | 1320<ref name=terragen /> | California |- | [[Shepherds Flat Wind Farm]] | 845<ref>[http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/09/green_oregon_sheperd_hills_win.html Shepherds Flat wind farm opening]</ref> | Oregon |- | [[Roscoe Wind Farm]] | 781<ref name=reuters20091001>Eileen O'Grady. [http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN3023624320091001 E.ON completes world's largest wind farm in Texas], ''Reuters'', October 1, 2009.</ref> | Texas |- | [[Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center]] | 736 | Texas |- | [[Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm]] | 705 | California |- | [[Capricorn Ridge Wind Farm]] | 662 | Texas |- | [[San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm]] | 619 | California |- | [[Fowler Ridge Wind Farm]] | 600 | Indiana |- | [[Sweetwater Wind Farm]] | 585<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.carboncatalog.org/projects/sweetwater-wind-farm/ | title= Sweetwater Wind Farm |format= | accessdate=February 26, 2011 }}</ref> | Texas |- | [[Altamont Pass Wind Farm]] | 576<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.eoearth.org/article/Altamont_Pass,_California |title=Altamont Pass, California – Encyclopedia of Earth |publisher=eoearth.org |accessdate=June 2, 2008 }} </ref> | California |- |} The [[Alta Wind Energy Center]] in California is the country's largest wind farm at 1320&nbsp;[[Watt#Megawatt|megawatt]] (MW) capacity.<ref name="terragen" /> It consists of 490 wind turbines manufactured by General Electric, and Vestas. In 2012 it surpassed the Roscoe Wind Farm in Texas.<ref>{{cite web | title =Investing in the Alta Wind Energy Center | publisher =google Green Blog| date =May 24, 2011 | url= http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/investing-in-alta-wind-energy-center.html#!/2011/05/investing-in-alta-wind-energy-center.html}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web | title =EC&R Completes 780-MW Roscoe Wind Farm | publisher =RenewableEnergyWorld.com | date =October 2, 2009 | url= http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/10/ec-r-completes-780-mw-roscoe-wind-farm }}</ref> A 2012 report by a clean energy consulting group concluded that new wind farms can produce electricity in the 5-8 cents per kWh range, making wind power cost-competitive with fossil fuels in many areas.<ref name="Ron Pernick 2012 5">{{cite web |url=http://www.cleanedge.com/sites/default/files/CETrends2012_Final_Web.pdf?attachment=true |title=Clean Energy Trends 2012|author=[[Ron Pernick]] |year=2012 |publisher=Clean Edge |page=5 }}</ref> As of 2013, the US Energy Information Administration estimates the "levelized cost" of wind energy from new installations as 7 to 10 cents per kWh, depending on the geographic area, but cautioned that levelized costs of non-[[Dispatchable generation|dispatchable]] sources such as wind should be compared to the avoided energy cost rather than the levelized cost of dispatchable sources such as natural gas, or baseload sources such as coal or geothermal.<ref>US Energy Information Administration, [http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/er/electricity_generation.cfm Levelized cost of new generation resources], 28 January 2013.</ref>{{Page needed|date=April 2016}} In 2015, a [[Koch Industries|Koch]]-funded institute<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article13227437.html |title=Kansas Senate chairman cuts off questions about Koch funding at energy hearing|work=[[The Wichita Eagle]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/03/27/14497/inside-koch-brothers-campus-crusade|title=Inside the Koch brothers' campus crusade|author=Dave Levinthal|work=[[Center for Public Integrity]]}}</ref><ref>http://www.newsweek.com/true-benefits-wind-power-323595</ref> of [[Utah State University]] stated that the cost of wind energy is higher than most cost estimates calculate. [[Renewable portfolio standard]]s require renewable energy to exist (most of them intermittent such as wind and solar), but at the expense of utilities and consumers. The [[production tax credit]] makes wind power cheaper for utilities and consumers, but at the expense of taxpayers.<ref>{{Citation| last =Simmons| first =Randy| last2 =Yonk| first2 =Ryan| last3 =Hansen| first3 =Megan| title =The True Cost of Energy: Wind| publisher =Utah State University| date =July 2015| url =http://www.strata.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Full-Report-True-Cost-of-Wind1.pdf| accessdate =7 July 2015 }}</ref> The [[American Wind Energy Association]] has criticized the study of lacking comparison with pollution and subsidies incurred by other electricity sources, and for counting transmission as a cost rather than a benefit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aweablog.org/koch-funded-study-on-cost-of-wind-flawed-throughout/ |title=Koch-funded study on cost of wind flawed throughout|author=Shauna Theel|publisher=[[American Wind Energy Association]] |date=7 July 2015|accessdate=27 April 2016}}</ref> ==National trends== ===Production=== {| style="border:solid 1px #aaa; margin-right:1em" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="0" class="floatleft" |+'''U.S. Wind Generation by Year''' |- | <timeline> ImageSize = width:290 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:48 bottom:21 top:10 right:10 AlignBars = justify Period = from:0 till:212000 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:40000 start:0 PlotData= color:coral width:20 bar:2000 from:start till:5593 text:5,593 bar:2001 from:start till:6737 text:6,737 bar:2002 from:start till:10354 text:10,354 bar:2003 from:start till:11187 text:11,187 bar:2004 from:start till:14144 text:14,144 bar:2005 from:start till:17811 text:17,811 bar:2006 from:start till:26589 text:26,589 bar:2007 from:start till:34450 text:34,450 bar:2008 from:start till:55363 text:55,363 bar:2009 from:start till:73886 text:73,886 bar:2010 from:start till:94652 text:94,652 bar:2011 from:start till:120177 text:120,177 bar:2012 from:start till:140822 text:140,822 bar:2013 from:start till:167840 text:167,840 bar:2014 from:start till:181791 text:181,655 bar:2015 from:start till:190927 text:190,927 </timeline> |- |Thousand Megawatthours Generated<br>since 2000<ref name="eia1">{{cite web |title=Electric Power Monthly |url=http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/pdf/epm.pdf |publisher=U.S. Department of Energy |date=February 2013 |accessdate=February 16, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="eia_2013">{{cite web |title=Electric Power Monthly |url=http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/pdf/epm.pdf |publisher=U.S. Department of Energy |date=February 2014 |accessdate=February 22, 2014 }}</ref> |} {| style="border:solid 1px #aaa; margin-right:1em" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="0" class="floatleft" |+'''U.S. Wind Generation Capacity by Year''' |- | <timeline> ImageSize = width:290 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:48 bottom:21 top:10 right:10 AlignBars = justify Period = from:0 till:76000 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:12500 start:0 PlotData= color:skyblue width:20 bar:2000 from:start till:2539 text:2,539 bar:2001 from:start till:4232 text:4,232 bar:2002 from:start till:4687 text:4,687 bar:2003 from:start till:6350 text:6,350 bar:2004 from:start till:6723 text:6,723 bar:2005 from:start till:9147 text:9,147 bar:2006 from:start till:11575 text:11,575 bar:2007 from:start till:16907 text:16,907 bar:2008 from:start till:25410 text:25,410 bar:2009 from:start till:34863 text:34,863 bar:2010 from:start till:40180 text:40,180 bar:2011 from:start till:46919 text:46,919 bar:2012 from:start till:60007 text:60,007 bar:2013 from:start till:61087 text:61,108 bar:2014 from:start till:65877 text:65,877 bar:2015 from:start till:74472 text:74,472 </timeline> |- |Megawatts of Installed Generating Capacity<br>since 2000<ref name="wpa1">{{cite web |title=Wind Powering America: Installed U.S. Wind Capacity and Wind Project Locations |url=http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_installed_capacity.asp |publisher=U.S. Department of Energy |date=January 19, 2012 |accessdate=January 19, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="wex2016">{{cite web |title=WindExchange: Installed U.S. Wind Capacity |url=http://apps2.eere.energy.gov/wind/windexchange/wind_installed_capacity.asp |publisher=U.S. Department of Energy |date=February 17, 2016 |accessdate=March 4, 2016 }}</ref><ref name="awea2015q4">{{cite web |title=U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2014 Market Report |url=http://awea.files.cms-plus.com/FileDownloads/pdfs/4Q2015%20AWEA%20Market%20Report%20Public%20Version.pdf |publisher=AWEA |date=January 27, 2016 |accessdate=March 7, 2016 }}</ref> |} Wind power has increased dramatically over the past years. In 2010, however, newly installed generating capacity was about half of the previous year due to various factors, including the financial crisis, and recession. In 2013 there was a 92% reduction in newly installed generating capacity compared to 2012, due to the late extension of the PTC <ref name="AWEA_2013Q4" /> The graph at left shows the growth in installed wind generation capacity in the United States based on data from the [[Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy]].<ref name="Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy">{{cite web |url= http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_installed_capacity.asp |title=U.S. Installed Wind Capacity and Wind Project Locations |publisher=[[Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy]], [[United States Department of Energy]] |date=March 5, 2010 |accessdate=March 12, 2010}}</ref><ref name="windpoweringamerica.gov">{{cite web |url= http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/docs/installed_wind_capacity_by_state.xls |title=Installed Wind Capacity by State |publisher=[[Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy]], [[United States Department of Energy]] |date=February 4, 2010 |accessdate=March 12, 2010}}</ref> In 2008, installed capacity in the U.S. increased by 50% over the prior year. The world average growth rate that year was 28.8%.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090202/ts_alt_afp/usenergysectorwind_20090202193046 Wind energy gathers steam, US biggest market: survey]</ref> By 2014, the wind industry in the USA was able to produce more power at lower cost by using taller wind turbines with longer blades, capturing the faster winds at higher elevations. This opened up new opportunities and in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, the price of power from wind turbines built 300 feet to 400 feet above the ground competed with conventional fossil fuels like coal.<!--coal got cheaper too--> Prices had fallen to about 4 cents per kilowatt-hour in some cases and utilities had been increasing the amount of wind energy in their portfolio, saying it is their cheapest option.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/21/business/energy-environment/wind-industrys-new-technologies-are-helping-it-compete-on-price.html?_r=0 |title=Wind Industry’s New Technologies Are Helping It Compete on Price |author=Diane Cardwell |date=March 20, 2014 |work=New York Times }}</ref> For power contracts made in the year 2014, the average price of wind power fell to 2.5¢/kWh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newscenter.lbl.gov/2015/08/10/study-finds-that-the-price-of-wind-energy-in-the-united-states-is-at-an-all-time-low-averaging-under-2-5%C2%A2kwh/|title=Study Finds that the Price of Wind Energy in the United States is at an All-time Low, Averaging under 2.5¢/kWh|work=[[Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory]] |accessdate=April 25, 2016}}</ref> The [[capacity factor]] is the ratio of power actually produced divided by the nameplate capacity of the turbines. The overall average capacity factor for wind generation in the US increased from 31.7% in 2008, to 32.3% in 2013.<ref>US Energy Information Administration, [http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_6_07_b Table 6.7B, Capacity factors], Electric Power Monthly, October 2014.</ref> ===Wind generation potential=== [[File:Wind_power_potential_map.jpeg|400px|thumb|right|Wind power potential]] According to the [[National Renewable Energy Laboratory]], the [[contiguous United States]] has the potential for 10,459&nbsp;GW of onshore wind power.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/filter_detail.asp?itemid=2542 | title= New Wind Resource Maps and Wind Potential Estimates for the United States |date= February 19, 2010 |publisher= Wind Powering America, DOE | accessdate=February 26, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/docs/wind_potential_80m_30percent.xlsx | title= Estimates of Windy Land Area and Wind Energy Potential by State for Areas >= 30% Capacity Factor at 80m |date= February 4, 2010 |format= .xls |publisher= [[National Renewable Energy Laboratory]] (NREL) | accessdate=February 26, 2011 }}</ref> The capacity could generate 37&nbsp;[[petawatt-hour]]s (PW·h) annually, an amount nine times larger than [[Electricity sector of the United States#Electricity generation|current total U.S. electricity consumption]].<ref>[http://www.awea.org/newsroom/releases/02-18-10_US_Wind_Resource_Larger.html U.S. Wind Resource even Larger than Previously Estimated: Government Assessment] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224133904/http://www.awea.org/newsroom/releases/02-18-10_US_Wind_Resource_Larger.html |date=February 24, 2010 }}</ref> The U.S. also has large wind resources in Alaska,<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/maps_template.asp?stateab=ak | title= Alaska 50-Meter Wind Resource Map |publisher= Wind Powering America, DOE | accessdate=February 26, 2011 }}</ref> and Hawaii.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_resource_maps.asp?stateab=hi | title= Hawaii 80-Meter Wind Resource Map |publisher= Wind Powering America, DOE | accessdate=February 26, 2011 }}</ref> In addition to the large onshore wind resources, the U.S. has large offshore wind power potential,<ref name="Lu2009">* {{Cite journal |title=Global potential for wind generated electricity |first=Xi |last=Lu |author2=McElroy, Michael |author3=Kiviluoma, Juha |url= http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2009/06/19/0904101106.full.pdf+html |format=PDF |doi=10.1073/pnas.0904101106 |date=June 22, 2009 |accessdate=June 27, 2009 |journal=[[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences]] |pmid=19549865 |volume=106 |issue=27 |pages=10933–8 |pmc=2700152 }}</ref> with another NREL report released in September 2010 showing that the U.S. has 4,150&nbsp;GW of potential offshore wind power nameplate capacity, an amount 4&nbsp;times that of the country's 2008 installed capacity from all sources, of 1,010&nbsp;GW.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.earthtechling.com/2010/09/u-s-offshore-wind-potential-4150-gw/ |title=U.S. Offshore Wind Potential 4,150 GW |last=Marchetti|first=Nino |publisher=EarthTechling |date=September 10, 2010 |accessdate=September 10, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2010/885.html |title=NREL Releases Estimate of National Offshore Wind Energy Potential |publisher=[[National Renewable Energy Laboratory]] |date=September 10, 2010 |accessdate=September 10, 2010}}</ref> The U.S. Department of Energy’s 2008 report ''20% Wind Energy by 2030''<ref name=eere2008 /> envisioned that wind power could supply 20% of all U.S. electricity, which included a contribution of 4% to the nation’s total electricity from offshore wind power.<ref name=usdept/> In order to achieve this, however, significant advances in cost, performance and reliability are needed, based on a 2011 report from a coalition of researchers from universities, industry, and government, supported by the [[Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future]].<ref name="Zehnder and Warhaft">{{cite web |last1=Zehnder |last2= Warhaft |first1=Alan |first2= Zellman |title=University Collaboration on Wind Energy |url= http://www.sustainablefuture.cornell.edu/attachments/2011-UnivWindCollaboration.pdf |publisher=Cornell University |accessdate=January 23, 2012}}</ref> Obtaining 20% from wind requires about 305 GW of wind turbines, an increase of 16 GW/year after 2018, or an average increase of 14.6%/year, and transmission line improvements.<ref name=eere2008 /> Analysts estimate around 25 GW of added US wind power in 2016-18,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.transmissionhub.com/articles/2016/03/while-investment-may-slow-in-coming-years-plenty-of-transmission-construction-investment-happening.html |title=While investment may slow in coming years, plenty of transmission construction, investment happening|author=Corina Rivera Linares|publisher=|accessdate=22 March 2016 |archive-url=http://www.elp.com/articles/2016/03/transmission-investment-slow-yet-steady-at-20-billion-per-year.html |archive-date=21 March 2016}}</ref> depending on the [[Clean Power Plan]] and PTC extensions. After the current PTC phase-out in 2021, additional wind power capacity is expected to be around 5 GW per year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.utilitydive.com/news/powered-by-ptc-wind-energy-expected-to-keep-booming-despite-clean-power-pl/413443/ |title=Powered by PTC, wind energy expected to keep booming despite Clean Power Plan stay|author=Herman K. Trabish |date=17 February 2016|work=Utility Dive|accessdate=27 April 2016}}</ref> {{clear}} ==State trends== [[File:Top Five US Wind States.svg|thumb|Trends of wind electrical generation in the top five states, 1990-2013 (US EIA data)]] {{main article|Growth of wind power in the United States}} In 2015, electricity generation from wind power was 10 percent or more in twelve U.S. states: Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, and South Dakota, Vermont, and Texas. Iowa, South Dakota, and Kansas each had more than 20 percent of their electricity generation come from wind.<ref name="AWEA_2016PR" /> Twenty states now have more than five percent of their generation coming from wind.<ref name="AWEA_2016PR" /> ===Texas=== [[File:Wind turbine blade transport I-35.jpg|thumb|right|A wind turbine blade on [[Interstate 35|I-35]] near [[Elm Mott, Texas|Elm Mott]], an increasingly common sight in Texas]] {{Main article|Wind power in Texas}} In 2010 Texas surpassed the 10,000 MW mark with the addition of over 600 MW of generating capacity.<ref name="AWEA_2012Q4">{{cite web | url= http://awea.files.cms-plus.com/FileDownloads/pdfs/AWEA%20Fourth%20Quarter%20Wind%20Energy%20Industry%20Market%20Report_Executive%20Summary.pdf | title= AWEA 4th quarter 2013 Public Market Report|date = January 2014| publisher= [[American Wind Energy Association]] (AWEA)| accessdate=February 1, 2014 }}</ref> Texas has many [[wind farm]]s which together total an installed capacity of 14,098 MW.<ref name="AWEA_2014Q4" /> At the end of 2014 Texas had over 7,500 MW under construction.<ref name="AWEA_2014Q4" /> The [[Roscoe Wind Farm]] in [[Roscoe, Texas]], Texas's largest wind farm with 627 wind turbines and a total installed capacity of 781.5&nbsp;MW, surpassed the nearby 735.5&nbsp;MW [[Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center]]. It is located about 200&nbsp;miles (320&nbsp;km) west of Fort Worth and the wind farm area spans parts of four Texas counties.<ref name=ren>[http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/10/ec-r-completes-780-mw-roscoe-wind-farm EC&R Completes 780-MW Roscoe Wind Farm] ''Renewable Energy World'', 2&nbsp;October 2009.</ref><ref name=reut>{{cite news| url=http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN3023624320091001 | title=E.ON completes world's largest wind farm in Texas | date=October 1, 2009 | work=Reuters | first=Eileen |last=O'Grady }}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;" |+ '''Large wind farms in Texas'''<ref name=third>[http://www.awea.org/publications/reports/3Q08.pdf AWEA 3rd quarter 2008 Market Report]</ref><ref>Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association. [http://www.treia.org/pdf_files/Wind%20Plant%20Chart.pdf Texas operational wind plants]</ref> |- ! Wind farm !! Installed <br /> capacity (MW) !! Turbine <br /> manufacturer !! County |- | [[Buffalo Gap Wind Farm]] || 523 || [[Vestas]] || Taylor / Nolan |- | [[Capricorn Ridge Wind Farm]] || 662 || [[GE Energy]] / [[Siemens]] || Sterling / Coke |- | [[Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center]] || 735 || GE Energy / Siemens || Taylor / Nolan |- | [[Lone Star Wind Farm]] || 400 || Gamesa || Shackelford / Callahan |- | [[Panther Creek Wind Farm]] || 458 || GE Energy || Howard / … |- | [[Papalote Creek Wind Farm]] || 380<ref name="sanpatwater.com">[http://sanpatwater.com/news12.15.10.php 196 Wind Turbines Cranking Out Power]</ref>|| Siemens || San Patricio |- | [[Peñascal Wind Farm]] || 404 || Mitsubishi || Kenedy |- | [[Roscoe Wind Farm]] || 781<ref name="renewableenergyworld.com">[http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53650 E.ON Delivers 335-MW of Wind in Texas]</ref>|| Mitsubishi || Nolan |- | [[Sweetwater Wind Farm]] || 585 || GE Energy / Siemens / Mitsubishi || Nolan |} ===California=== {{Main article|Wind power in California}} Wind power in California has doubled in capacity since 2002. With a total of nearly 4,000 megawatts installed, as of the end of 2011, wind energy now supplies about 5% of California’s total electricity needs, or enough to power more than 400,000 households. The amount varies greatly from day to day.<ref>[http://content.caiso.com/green/renewrpt/DailyRenewablesWatch.pdf California daily renewables report]</ref> In 2011, 921.3 megawatts were installed. Most of that activity occurred in the Tehachapi area of Kern County, with some big projects in Solano, Contra Costa and Riverside counties as well.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} After 2014, California now ranks second nationwide in terms of capacity, behind Texas with a capacity of 5,917 MW.<ref name="AWEA_2014Q4" /> Large portions of California's wind output, are located in three primary regions: [[Altamont Pass Wind Farm]] (east of San Francisco); [[Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm]] (south east of Bakersfield), and [[San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm]] (near Palm Springs, east of Los Angeles). The giant new [[Alta Wind Energy Center]], is also located within the Tehachapi Pass region.<ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite web | url= http://www.energy.ca.gov/wind/overview.html | title= Overview of Wind Energy in California | date= May 15, 2009 | publisher= [[California Energy Commission]] | accessdate=December 2, 2009 }}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;" |+ '''Large wind farms in California''' |- ! Name !! Location !! Capacity ([[Megawatt|MW]]) !! Status !! {{Tooltip|Ref|References}} |- | [[Altamont Pass Wind Farm]] || [[Alameda County, California|Alameda County]] || 576 || Operational ||<ref name=awea>{{Cite web |url= http://www.awea.org/projects/Projects.aspx?s=Washington |title=U.S. Wind Energy Projects – Washington |publisher=[[American Wind Energy Association]] |date=July 2010 |accessdate=July 28, 2010}}</ref> |- | [[Alta Wind Energy Center]] || [[Kern County, California|Kern County]] || 1320 || Operational ||<ref name="terragen" /> |- | [[San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm]] || [[Riverside County, California|Riverside County]] || 615 || Operational ||<ref name=awea/> |- | [[Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm]] || [[Kern County, California|Kern County]] || 705 || Operational ||<ref name=awea/> |} {{wide image|San gorgonio pass wind farm california pano.jpg|1000px|The majority of the [[San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm]] as viewed from the [[San Jacinto Mountains]] to the south. (The farm continues over the hills to the north along [[California State Route 62]] and is not visible from this vantagepoint). The layout includes a variety of large modern and older smaller turbine designs}} ===Iowa=== [[File:Wind Generation Percentage Bar Chart U.S. 2013.svg|thumb|right|State wind generation percentages for 2013.]] {{Main article|Wind power in Iowa}} More than 30 percent of the electricity generated in Iowa now comes from wind power.<ref name="AWEA_2016PR" /><ref name="wtmr2014">{{cite journal|title=2014 Wind Technologies Market Report|date=August 2015|page=10|accessdate=20 November 2015}}</ref> Iowa had 5,688 [[megawatts]] (MW) of generation capacity at the end of 2014, third only to Texas and California.<ref name="AWEA_2014Q4" /> Electrical energy generated in Iowa by wind in 2014 amounted to over 16 million Megawatt-hours.<ref name="eia_2013" /> Since Iowa adopted a [[renewable energy standard]] in 1983, the wind power industry has generated almost $5 billion in investment.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/18/a-republican-shout-out-for-wind-energy/ |title=A Republican Shout-Out for Wind Energy |author=Jim Witkin |date=August 18, 2011 |work=New York Times }}</ref> The second concrete wind turbine tower to be built in the U.S., and also the country's tallest (377 feet) at the time built, is in Adams county. Completion is expected early spring of 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=MidAmerican Energy installing a concrete tower for the tallest land-based wind turbine in the U.S.|author=Karen Ulenhuth|url=http://midwestenergynews.com/2015/11/16/tallest-u-s-wind-tower-under-construction-in-iowa/|website=Midwest Energy News|publisher=RE-AMP|accessdate=20 November 2015}}</ref> ===Oklahoma=== {{Main article|Wind power in Oklahoma}} Oklahoma has one of the best resources in the United States. Bergey Windpower, a leading manufacturer of small wind turbines is located in Oklahoma. Programs leading to careers in the wind power industry are provided at tech schools, community colleges and universities in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative supports the development of wind power in the state.<ref name=ok1>{{cite web|title=Wind Energy|url=http://okcommerce.gov/state-energy-office/renewable-energy/wind-energy/|publisher=Oklahoma Department of Commerce|accessdate=14 January 2014}}</ref> ===Illinois=== [[File:Wind power capacity density by state 2013.svg|thumb|right|Wind power capacity density by state at end of 2013.]] {{Main article|Wind power in Illinois}} Wind power has been supported by a [[renewable portfolio standard]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Illinois Incentives/Policies for Renewables & Efficiency|url=http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=IL04R&state=IL&CurrentPageID=1&RE=1&EE=1|work=Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency|publisher=U.S. Dept. of Energy|accessdate=17 May 2010}}</ref> passed in 2007, and strengthened in 2009, which requires 10% renewable energy from electric companies by 2010 and 25% by 2025. Illinois has the potential for installing up to an estimated 249,882 MW of wind generation capacity at a hub height of 80 meters.<ref>{{cite web|title=WIND ENERGY FACTS: ILLINOIS|url=http://www.awea.org/learnabout/publications/factsheets/upload/3Q-12-Illinois.pdf|work=American Wind Energy Association|accessdate=17 February 2013}}</ref> ===Kansas=== {{Main article|Wind power in Kansas}} In 2012, Kansas saw a large number of wind projects completed making it among the largest and fastest growing wind energy markets.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} At the end of 2014 the total capacity sits at 2,967 MW.<ref name="AWEA_2014Q4" /><ref name=ks1>{{cite web|last=staff|title=Kansas is propelling growth in wind energy|url=http://www.governorswindenergycoalition.org/?p=6361|publisher=Governors Wind Energy Coalition|accessdate=14 January 2014}}</ref> Kansas has high potential capacity for wind power, second behind Texas. The most recent estimates are that Kansas has a potential for 950&nbsp;GW of wind power capacity. Kansas could generate 3,900&nbsp;TW·h of electricity each year, which represents more than all the electricity generated from coal, natural gas and nuclear combined in the United States in 2011.<ref name=nrel2010>[http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_maps.asp U.S. Wind Energy Potential at 100m 35% capacity factor or better]</ref> ==Commercialization of wind power== [[File:US wind power PPA 1996-2014.svg|thumb|Levelized wind [[Power purchase agreement]] prices by PPA execution date and region.]] {{See also|Renewable energy commercialization}} The average price of [[Power purchase agreement]]s was $23.5/MWh in 2014.<ref name=wiser2015>Wiser, Ryan H., and Mark Bolinger. "[https://emp.lbl.gov/publications/2014-wind-technologies-ma 2014 Wind Technologies Market Report]" page v+56. ''[[Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory]]'', August 2015.<!--lots more in this--></ref> Operating expenses were estimated to $10/MWh.<ref name=patel>Sonal Patel. "[http://www.powermag.com/doe-report-highlights-triumph-trouble-for-wind-power-sector/?printmode=1 DOE Report Highlights Triumph, Trouble for Wind Power Sector]" August 12, 2015. [http://web.archive.org/web/20151116224826/http://www.powermag.com/doe-report-highlights-triumph-trouble-for-wind-power-sector/?printmode=1 Archive]</ref> [[File:US projected cost of wind power.png|thumb|The [[National Renewable Energy Laboratory]] projects that the levelized cost of wind power in the U.S. will decline about 25% from 2012 to 2030.<ref>E. Lantz, M. Hand, and R. Wiser (May 13–17, 2012) [http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/54526.pdf "The Past and Future Cost of Wind Energy,"] National Renewable Energy Laboratory conference paper no. 6A20-54526, page 4</ref>]]<!--obsolete--> ===Industry trends=== {{Further|List of wind turbine manufacturers}} Since 2005 many turbine manufacturing leaders have opened U.S. facilities; of the top&nbsp;10 global manufacturers in 2007, seven – [[Vestas]], [[GE Energy]], [[Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica|Gamesa]], [[Suzlon Energy|Suzlon]], [[Siemens]], [[Acciona Energy|Acciona]], and [[Nordex SE|Nordex]] – have an American manufacturing presence.<ref name=econ>[http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/04/the-economic-reach-of-wind The Economic Reach of Wind]</ref><ref>[http://technology4life.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/acciona-celebrates-completion-of-first-wind-turbine-production-plant-in-us/ Acciona celebrates completion of first wind turbine production plant in US]</ref><ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS125188+15-Sep-2008+BW20080915 Wind Energy Market Report]</ref> [[REpower Systems|REpower]] is another manufacturer with notable usage in the United States.<ref>[http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2008/11/enxco-closes-financing-on-shiloh-ii-wind-project-54114 enXco Closes Financing on Shiloh II Wind Project]</ref> Plans for 30 new manufacturing facilities were announced in 2008, and the wind industry expects to see a continued shift towards domestic manufacturing in the coming years. In total, 70 manufacturing facilities have begun production, been expanded, or announced since January 2007.<ref name=econ/> As of April 2009, over 100 companies are producing components for wind turbines, employing thousands of workers in the manufacture of parts as varied as towers, composite blades, bearings and gears. Many existing companies in traditional manufacturing states have retooled to enter the wind industry. Their manufacturing facilities are spread across 40&nbsp;states, employing workers from the Southeast to the Steel Belt, to the Great Plains and on to the Pacific Northwest.<ref name=econ/> The [[U.S. Department of Energy]] (DOE) is working with six leading wind turbine manufacturers towards achieving 20% wind power in the United States by 2030. The DOE announced the [[Memorandum of Understanding]] (MOU) with GE Energy, [[Siemens Power Generation]], [[Vestas Wind Systems]], [[Clipper Windpower]], [[Suzlon Energy]], and [[Gamesa Corporation]]. Under the MOU, the DOE and the six manufacturers will collaborate to gather and exchange information relating to five major areas: research and development related to turbine reliability and operability; siting strategies for wind power facilities; standards development for turbine certification and universal interconnection of wind turbines; manufacturing advances in design, process automation, and fabrication techniques; and workforce development.<ref name=eere2008>[http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/pdfs/20_percent_wind_2.pdf 20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing the best Wind Energy's Contribution to U.S. Electricity Supply] May 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.energy.gov/news/6305.htm Department of Energy – DOE Announces Effort to Advance U.S. Wind Power Manufacturing Capacity] dead link</ref> In 2014, GE had 60%, Siemens had 26%, and Vestas had 12% of US market share. Combined, they had 98%.<ref name=wiser2015/> Most new turbines were designed for low wind. The turbine manufacturers compete with each other and cause decreasing turbine prices.<ref name=patel/> ===Other government involvement=== [[File:Kaheawa Wind Farm 428371965 88dfaa760a o.jpg|right|thumb|Kaheawa Wind Farm near [[Maalaea, Hawaii|Maalaea, Maui]], with 20&nbsp;[[GE Energy]] 1.5&nbsp;MW wind turbines]] [[File:US Electricity from renewables.png|thumb|The US Energy Information Administration projects the growth of wind power to slow appreciably after 2013 if incentives are not continued.]] The DOE's [[National Renewable Energy Laboratory]] (NREL) has announced a number of wind technology projects, including a new state-of-the-art wind turbine blade test facility to be built in [[Ingleside, Texas]]. The Texas-NREL Large Blade Research and Test Facility will be capable of testing blades as long as 70&nbsp;meters (230&nbsp;feet). It will be built and operated through a partnership among NREL, DOE, and a state consortium led by [[University of Houston]], with the university owning and operating the facility's buildings, DOE funding up to $2&nbsp;million in capital costs, and NREL providing technical and operational assistance. The blade test facility is estimated to cost between $12&nbsp;million and $15&nbsp;million and should be completed by 2010. Located on the Gulf Coast, the Texas facility will complement a similar facility that is being built on the coast of [[Massachusetts]].<ref>[http://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2008/604.html NREL: New Wind Power Partnerships to Benefit Industry and Nation<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> NREL has also recently signed agreements with Siemens Power Generation and First Wind, a wind power developer. Siemens is launching a new research and development facility in nearby [[Boulder, Colorado]], and has agreed to locate and test a commercial-scale wind turbine at NREL's National Wind Technology Center (NWTC). First Wind (formerly called UPC Wind Partners, LLC) owns and operates the 30-megawatt [[Kaheawa Wind Power]] farm in [[West Maui Mountains|West Maui, Hawaii]], and has agreed to let the NWTC establish a Remote Research Affiliate Partner Site at the facility. The Maui satellite of NWTC will collaborate with First Wind on studies to develop advanced wind energy technologies, including energy storage and integration of renewable electricity into Maui's electrical grid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstwind.com/aboutFirstWind/news.cfm?ID=09a31a7a%2Daf12%2D4915%2Db486%2D70f8007d66e4&test |title=UPC Wind Signs Agreement with Department of Energy to Establish National Wind technology Center on Maui |date=April 1, 2008 |publisher=[[First Wind]] |accessdate=December 2, 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228094936/http://www.firstwind.com/aboutFirstWind/news.cfm?ID=09a31a7a%2Daf12%2D4915%2Db486%2D70f8007d66e4&test |archivedate=December 28, 2008 }}</ref> In July 2008, Texas approved a $4.93 billion expansion of the state's [[electric grid]] to bring wind energy to its major cities. Transmission companies will recoup the cost of constructing the new power lines, expected to be completed in 2013, from fees estimated at $4 per month for residential customers.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/19/business/19wind.html?em&ex=1216785600&en=a452b9022a07d7fb&ei=5087%0A Texas Approves a $4.93&nbsp;Billion Wind-Power Project]</ref> This lack of capacity forced wind turbines to be shut down at times and reduced wind power generation in Texas by 17% in 2009.<ref name="wpmr_2009">{{cite web | url= http://apps2.eere.energy.gov/wind/windexchange/pdfs/workshops/2010/webinar_wind_technologies_market_report_wiser_presentation.pdf | title= 2009 Wind Technologies Market Report | date= August 18, 2010 | publisher= Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab | accessdate= March 6, 2016 }}</ref> In 2010, the DOE awarded $60 million for a study of transmission requirements.<ref>[http://www.nrel.gov/wind/systemsintegration/news/2010/785.html Secretary Chu Announces Efforts to Strengthen U.S. Electric Transmission Networks]</ref> Beginning in 2006, the DOE is required to provide a transmission congestion report once every three years.<ref>[http://energy.gov/oe/services/electricity-policy-coordination-and-implementation/transmission-planning/2012-national 2012 National Electric Transmission Congestion Study]</ref> Recent U.S. policy has generally been to provide an inflation-adjusted federal [[production tax credit]] (PTC) of $15 per MW·h (in 1995 dollars) generated for the first ten years of operation for wind energy sold. As of 2015, the credit was $23 per MW·h.<ref>US Dept. of Energy, [http://energy.gov/savings/renewable-electricity-production-tax-credit-ptc Renewable electricity production tax credit], accessed 20 July 2015.</ref> [[Renewable portfolio standard]]s mandating a certain percentage of electricity sales come from renewable energy sources, which are in place in about half of the states, also have boosted the development of the wind industry.<ref>[http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy10osti/47531.pdf Wind Power Today 2010, EERE Wind and Water Program] (pdf)</ref> Each time Congress has allowed the production tax credit has expired, wind power development has slowed as investors wait for the credit to be restored. Each year it is renewed development has expanded. The tax credit expired at the end of 2012, bringing wind power development activity to a near halt. A short term, one year policy was enacted at the beginning of 2013 which provides a tax credit to projects under construction by the end of 2013 and completed before the end of 2014.{cn}<ref name="Gerhardt"/> The PTC was first introduced in 1992.<ref>[http://www.awea.org/issues/federal_policy/index.cfm Federal Policy]</ref> When it was allowed to expire, development dropped 93%, 73%, and 77% the following year. The [[Energy Information Administration]] has reported that wind power received the largest share of direct federal subsidies and support in [[fiscal year]] 2013 (the latest year for which statistics are available), accounting for 37% ($5.936 billion) of total electricity-related subsidies. Almost three-quarters of wind energy subsidies in that year were direct expenditures and largely resulted from the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009|ARRA]] programs. These figures do not include subsidies and supports from other levels of government.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.eia.gov/analysis/requests/subsidy/ | title =Direct Federal Financial Interventions and Subsidies in Energy in Fiscal Year 2013 | last = | first = | date =23 March 2015 | website =Analysis & Projections | publisher =Energy Information Administration | access-date =23 January 2015 | quote = }}</ref> ===Siting considerations=== [[File:Windmills south of Dumas, TX IMG 0570.JPG|thumb|right|Landowners typically receive $3,000 to $5,000 per year in rental income from each wind turbine, while farmers continue to grow crops or graze cattle up to the foot of the turbines.<ref name=nine/>]] {{See also|Wind farm|Environmental effects of wind power}} There is competition for wind farms among farmers in places like Iowa or ranchers in Colorado. Farmers, with no investment on their part, typically receive $3,000–5,000 per year in royalties<ref name="wind_cash_crop">{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2007/dec/11/nation/chi-windfarm_jones_11dec11 |title=More farmers seeing wind as cash crop |date=December 11, 2007 |work=Chicago Tribune |first=Tim |last=Jones |accessdate=December 6, 2008 }}</ref> from the local utility for siting a single, large, advanced-design wind turbine.<ref>[http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/PB2/pb2ch10.pdf "Stabilizing Climate"] in Lester R. Brown, ''[[Plan B 2.0]] Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble'' (NY: W.W. Norton & Co., 2006), p.&nbsp;191.</ref><ref name="oilman_wind_power">{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/business/25868279.html |title=Legendary Texas oilman embraces wind power |work=[[Star Tribune]] |date=July 25, 2008 |accessdate=August 24, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="oil_addiction">{{cite web |url=http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2008/07/09/texas-oil-man-says-we-can-break-the-addiction |title=Texas Oil Man Says We Can Break the Addiction |publisher=Sightline Daily |date=July 9, 2008 |last=Fahey |first=Anna |accessdate=August 24, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="pickens_order">{{cite web |url=http://www.windtoday.net/info/articles.html?ID=57318 |title=T. Boone Pickens Places $2 Billion Order for GE Wind Turbines |publisher=Wind Today Magazine |date=May 16, 2008 |accessdate=August 24, 2008 }} </ref><ref>[http://www.agweekly.com/articles/2008/11/28/news/ag_news/news43.txt Farmers reap stability from wind]</ref> Landscape and ecological issues may be significant for some wind farm proposals,<ref>"Gone with the wind", ''New Scientist'', 8 July 2006, pp. 36–39.</ref> and environmental issues are a consideration in site selection.<ref>[http://www.bls.gov/green/wind_energy/#projdev Project Development Phase]</ref> Worldwide experience has shown that community consultation and direct involvement of the general public in wind farm projects has helped to increase community approval,<ref>[http://www.scandinavica.com/culture/nature/wind.htm The world's leader in Wind Power]</ref> and some wind farms overseas have become [[Unconventional wind turbines#Wind turbines on public display|tourist attractions]].<ref name=Australia10MI >[http://www.westernaustralia.com/en/search/product.htm?pname=Ten_Mile_Lagoon_Wind_Farm&ID=9003410 Ten Mile Lagoon Wind Farm]</ref> In November 2016 the [[Bureau of Land Management]] issued a new rule governing wind and solar development on public lands. The [[American Wind Energy Association]] criticized the new rule, saying "... this final rule makes federal lands even less attractive to wind energy developers. This will add time, uncertainty, complexity, and expense to a process that was already more difficult than developing on private lands."<ref>[http://www.awea.org/MediaCenter/pressreleasev2.aspx?ItemNumber=9559 Final rule issued by BLM makes wind development on public land less likely]. Retrieved November 13, 2016.</ref> ==Offshore wind power== {{As of|2014}}, the United States still had no operational offshore wind power facilities. Development is hindered by relatively high cost compared to onshore facilities. Several projects are under development with some at advanced stages of development.<ref name=2013WTMR>{{cite journal|last1=Bollinger|first1=Mark|title=2013 Wind Technologies Market Report|journal=LBNL|date=August 2014|accessdate=20 August 2014}}</ref> The United States, though, has very large offshore wind energy resources due to strong, consistent winds off the long U.S. coastline.<ref name="usdept">{{cite web |url=http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy11osti/49222.pdf |title=Strengthening America’s Energy Security with Offshore Wind |date = February 2011|publisher=U.S. Department of Energy }}</ref> The 2011 NREL report, ''Large-Scale Offshore Wind Power in the United States'', analyzes the current state of the offshore wind energy industry. According to the report, offshore wind resource development would help the country to achieve 20% of its electricity from wind by 2030 and to revitalize the manufacturing sector. Offshore wind could supply 54&nbsp;gigawatts of capacity to the nation's electrical grid, thereby increasing energy security. It could also generate an estimated $200 billion in new economic activity and create thousands of permanent jobs.<ref name="nrelhigh">{{cite web |url=http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy11osti/52664.pdf |title=Landmark Report Analyzes Current State of U.S. Offshore Wind Industry |year=2011 |work=NREL Highlights }}</ref> NREL’s report concludes that "the development of the nation’s offshore wind resources can provide many potential benefits, and with effective research, policies, and commitment, offshore wind energy can play a vital role in future U.S. energy markets".<ref name=nrelhigh/> Coastal residents have opposed offshore wind farms because of fears about impacts on marine life, the environment, electricity rates, aesthetics, and recreation such as fishing and boating. However, residents also cite improved electricity rates, air quality, and job creation as positive impacts they would expect from wind farms.<ref name="EESI">{{cite web |url=http://www.eesi.org/101310_offshore_wind_factsheet |last=[[Environmental and Energy Study Institute]] |title=Offshore Wind Factsheet}}</ref><ref name="CEOE">{{cite web |url=http://www.ceoe.udel.edu/windpower/docs/FireKemp07-PubOpinUnderly.pdf |author=Jeremy Firestone, Willett Kempton |title=Public opinion about large offshore wind power: Underlying factors}}</ref> Because the bases of offshore turbines function as artificial reefs, studies have shown that after the initial disturbance of construction, local fish and shellfish are positively affected.<ref name="EESI" /><ref name="IUCN">{{cite web |url=http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2010-014.pdf |author=Dan Wilhelmsson|title=Greening Blue Energy: Identifying and managing the biodiversity risks and opportunities of offshore renewable energy |publisher=International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources|display-authors=etal}}</ref> Because wind turbines can be positioned at some distance from shore, impacts to recreation and fishing can be managed by careful planning of wind farm locations.<ref name="EESI" /> Five exploratory leases for wind power production on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore from New Jersey and Delaware were issued in June 2009 by the Secretary of the Interior. The leases authorize data gathering activities, allowing for the construction of meteorological towers on the [[Outer Continental Shelf]] from six to {{convert|18|mi|km}} offshore.<ref>[http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/06/doi-announces-five-exploratory-leases-for-offshore-wind-energy?cmpid=WNL-Thursday-June25-2009 DOI Announces Five Exploratory Leases for Offshore Wind Energy]</ref> Four areas are being considered.<ref name="owAtl">[http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=186634 Areas under consideration for wind energy areas] ''[[U.S. Department of Energy]]''. Accessed: February 8, 2011.</ref> On February 7, 2011, Salazar and [[Stephen Chu]] announced a national strategy to have offshore wind power of 10&nbsp;GW in 2020, and 54&nbsp;GW in 2030.<ref name="USowStrategy">[http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wind/pdfs/national_offshore_wind_strategy.pdf A national offshore wind strategy: Creating an offshore wind energy industry in the United States] page iii ''[[U.S. Department of Energy]]'', February 7, 2011. Accessed: February 8, 2011. "no wind turbines are installed in U.S. waters"</ref> Projects are under development in areas of the East Coast, Great Lakes, and Gulf coast.<ref name=2013WTMR/> ===New England=== Rhode Island and Massachusetts state officials picked [[Deepwater Wind]] to build a $1.5-billion, 385-megawatt wind farm in federal waters off [[Block Island]]. The 100-turbine project could provide 1.3&nbsp;terawatt-hours (TW·h) of electricity per year – 15&nbsp;percent of all electricity used in the state of Rhode Island.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.projo.com/news/content/Wind_Power_Ecology_04-24-09_VLE4UFH_v7.37906e0.html | title= Deepwater wind project making headway | last= Lord | first= Peter B. | date= April 24, 2009 | work= [[The Providence Journal]] | accessdate=April 29, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2008/09/rhode-island-chooses-deepwater-wind-to-build-off-shore-wind-farm-53708 | title= Rhode Island Chooses Deepwater Wind to Build Off-Shore Wind Farm | date= September 30, 2008 | publisher= RenewableEnergyWorld.com | accessdate=April 29, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.pbn.com/detail/41759.html | title= U.S. offshore wind rules expected today | last= Nesi | first= Ted | date= April 22, 2009 | work= [[Providence Business News]] | accessdate=April 29, 2009 }}</ref> In 2009, Deepwater signed an agreement with [[National Grid USA|National Grid]] to sell the power from a $200-million, 30-MW wind farm off Block Island, at an initial price of 24.4&nbsp;¢/kW·h.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=306597&ac=PHnws | title= Offshore wind power: Can Maine afford it? | last= Turkel | first= Tux | date= January 3, 2010 | work= [[Portland Press Herald]] | accessdate=January 8, 2010 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Construction of the [[Block Island Wind Farm]], a five turbine project began in April 2015. The [[Cape Wind Project]] is a proposed offshore [[wind farm]] on Horseshoe Shoal in [[Nantucket Sound]] off [[Cape Cod]] in the U.S. state of [[Massachusetts]]. The 468 MW wind farm was proposed by a private developer, Cape Wind Associates.<ref name="ReuApprov">Krasny, Ros. [http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63R42X20100428?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews Cape Wind, first U.S. offshore wind farm, approved] ''Reuters'', April 28, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2010</ref><ref name="bglobeApprov">Jackson, Derrick Z. [http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/05/01/the_winds_of_change/ The winds of change] ''Boston Globe'', May 1, 2010. Retrieved May 2, 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/04/29/cape.wind.ceo.profile/?hpt=C2 (CNN) "The wind man who beat Cape Cod's elite"]</ref> The project has been fought by the [[Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound]], formed in 2001 to oppose the proposal.<ref name="bosglobe">{{cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2010/10/10/cape_wind_backers_blew_right__by_cost/ | work=The Boston Globe | first=Beth | last=Daley | title=Cape Wind backers blew right by cost | date=October 10, 2010}}</ref> The project was expected to cost $2.5 billion.<ref name="bosglobe" /> As a comparison,<!--more relevant to compare with nearby onshore--> the cost of Mid American Energy's 2014-2015 expansion of projects in Iowa (totaling 1050 MW capacity) was stated to be $1.9 billion.<ref>[http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059991935 Utility launches $1.9 billion wind power expansion in Iowa]</ref>{{Relevance inline|date=April 2016|reason=1,000 miles between Iowa and Massachusetts requires transmission}} The expected capacity factors (at the time) of the two expansions projects were very similar (38% versus 36%). In this case, often cited improved capacity factors for offshore wind are virtually non-existent.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}<!--good wind in Iowa is barely relevant for New England--> ===Mid Atlantic=== To promote [[wind power in New Jersey]], in 2007 the state awarded a $4.4 million contract to conduct an 18-month Ocean/Wind Power Ecological Baseline Study, becoming the first state to sponsor an ocean and wind power study before allowing renewable energy developers to study and build off its shores. The study focused on a designated area off the coast to determine the current distribution, abundance and migratory patterns of avian species, fish, marine resources and sea turtle use of the existing ecological resources.<ref>{{Cite web | title = GMI Awarded New Jersey Ocean/Wind Power Ecological Baseline Studies | publisher = North American Wind Power | date = November 15, 2007 | url = http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.1457 | accessdate =June 6, 2011 | quote = }}</ref> The results of the study were released in June 2010. The study concluded that the effects of developing offshore windfarms would be negligible.<ref>{{Cite web | title = Offshore Wind Energy Study Puts New Jersey in Lead Nationally in Creating Environmentally Safer Energy Source | publisher = New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection | date = June 18, 2010 | url = http://www.state.nj.us/dep/newsrel/2010/10_0058.htm | accessdate =June 6, 2011 | quote = }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | last = Conaboy | first = Chelsea | title = Study favorable for proposed N.J. offshore wind farms | newspaper = Philadelphia Inquirer | date = June 19, 2010 | url = http://articles.philly.com/2010-06-19/news/24964613_1_wind-turbines-offshore-wind-farms-wind-power | accessdate =June 3, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title = Ocean/Wind Power Baseline Ecological Studies | publisher = State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection | date = July 23, 2010 | url = http://www.nj.gov/dep/dsr/ocean-wind/ | accessdate =June 6, 2011 }}</ref> In 2008, new federal rules greatly expanded the territory offshore wind parks can be built. Previously, projects were only allowed in shallow state waters within {{convert|3|nmi|km}} of shore. The edge of U.S. territory is about {{convert|200|nmi|km}} out. Increased distance from the coast diminishes their visibility. Waters off the coast of the United States are deeper than in Europe, requiring different designs.<ref>{{Citation | last = Waltz | first = Emily | author-link = | author2-link = | title = Offshore Wind May Power the Future Not only are offshore winds stronger but landlubbers have fewer objections to turbines almost invisible from the coast | newspaper = Scientific America | date = October 20, 2008 | url = http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=offshore-wind-may-power-the-future&page=2 | accessdate =June 6, 2011 | quote = }}</ref> [[Atlantic Wind Connection]] is a proposed [[Electric power transmission|electrical transmission backbone]] to be built off the Atlantic Coast of the United States to serve off-shore [[wind farm]]s. The transmission line, proposed by Trans-Elect Development Company, would deliver power ashore in southern Virginia, Delaware, southern New Jersey and northern New Jersey. As a first of its kind project, it poses significant risks of encountering unexpected technological challenges and cost overruns.<ref name = "NYT" >[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/12/science/earth/12wind.html "Offshore Wind Power Line Wins Praise, and Backing"] article by Matthew L. Wald in ''[[The New York Times]]'' October 12, 2010, Accessed October 12, 2010</ref> Such an offshore backbone is an element in the national electricity strategy.<!--page 33--><ref name="USowStrategy"/> Bechtel has been selected as the EPC contractor and Alstom as technical advisor for the first phase of the development for the project.<ref name=AWC170113>{{cite press release|title=Offshore Wind Transmission Project Selects Bechtel, Alstom to Build Historic Project|url=http://www.atlanticwindconnection.com/ferc/Jan2013/AWC-OffshoreWindTransmission.pdf|accessdate=January 24, 2013|publisher=Atlantic Grid Development, LLC|date=January 17, 2013|author=Frank Maisano}}</ref> [[Google]] and Good Energies, an investment firm, are the major investors in the $5 billion project.<ref name="NYT" /> ==Wind energy meteorology== [[File:US Wind Energy Meteorology.webm|thumb|Upper: the propagation of transient waves. Lower: the time and spatial variation of the related capacity factor values (CF) at 100m. The power curves and technical parameters for the GE 2.5 MW turbines is used to calculate the instantaneous capacity factor.<ref name="huang" />]] Winds in the Central plains region of the U.S. are variable on both short (minutes) and long (days) time scales. Variations in wind speed result in variations in power output from wind farms, which poses difficulties incorporating wind power into an integrated power system. Wind turbines are driven by boundary layer winds, those that occur near the surface of the earth, at around 300 feet. Boundary layer winds are controlled by wind in the higher free atmosphere and have turbulence due to interaction with surface features such as trees, hills, and buildings. Short term or high frequency variations are due to this turbulence in the boundary layer. Long term variations are due to the passage of [[Atmospheric wave|transient waves]] in the atmosphere, with a characteristic time scale of several days. The transient waves that influence wind in the Central U.S. are large scale and this results in the power output from wind farms in the region being somewhat correlated and not entirely independent. Large scale distribution of wind farms significantly reduce short term variability, limiting the [[Coefficient of variation|relative standard deviation]] of the capacity factor to about 45%.<ref name="huang">{{cite journal |author=Junling Huang, Xi Lu and Michael B. McElroy|url=http://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/10981611/Meteorologically%20defined%20limits%20to%20reduction%20in%20the%20variability%20of%20outputs%20from%20a%20coupled%20wind%20farm%20system%20in%20the%20Central%20US_1.pdf?sequence=6|title=Meteorologically defined limits to reduction in the variability of outputs from a coupled wind farm system in the Central US|journal=Renewable Energy| volume=62 |pages=331–340 (p13+15+26) |year=2014 |doi=10.1016/j.renene.2013.07.022}}</ref> The correlation is highest in summer and lowest in winter.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Lu | first1 = Xi | last2 = McElroya | first2 = Michael B. | last3 = Kiviluoma | first3 = Juha | year = | title = Global potential for wind-generated electricity: Correlation table between Montana (MT), Minnesota (MN), and Texas (TX) | journal = [[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America]] | volume = 106 | issue = 27| pages = 10933–10938 | doi = 10.1073/pnas.0904101106 | pmid=19549865 | pmc=2700152 | date=July 2009}}</ref> ==Environmental regulations== The US federal government has jurisdiction to prevent bird and bat deaths by wind turbines, under the [[Endangered Species Act]], the [[Migratory Bird Treaty Act]], and the [[Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act]]. Under the 2009 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Interior Department could issue permits to allow "non-purposeful take" for activities where eagle deaths were considered unavoidable; however, as of December 2013, no take permits had been issued to wind energy developers.<ref name="washingtonpost.com">Associated Press, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/govt-to-extend-authorizations-for-eagle-deaths/2013/12/06/0d8ccb42-5e83-11e3-8d24-31c016b976b2_story.html "US to allow eagle deaths – to aid wind power"], Washington Post, 6 Dec. 2013.</ref> The [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service]] has published voluntary guidelines for design and siting of wind turbines to minimize bird and bat deaths. Interim guidelines were published in 2003, and the latest version in 2012. The document recognizes that even the best management practices may not prevent wind turbine bird deaths in violation of federal law, but stated: “However, if a violation occurs the Service will consider a developer’s documented efforts to communicate with the Service and adhere to the Guidelines.”<ref>United States Fish and Wildlife Service, [http://www.fws.gov/windenergy/docs/weg_final.pdf Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines], Mar. 2012.</ref> In 2013, the Obama administration was accused of having a double standard to protect the wind industry from Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act prosecutions, while vigorously pursuing violations by oil companies and owners of power lines. The administration refused to divulge the number of raptor deaths reported to it by wind companies, saying that to do so would reveal trade secrets. The government also ordered federal law enforcement field agents not to pursue bird-death prosecutions against wind companies without prior approval from Washington. The policy was said to be an environmental trade-off to promote renewable energy.<ref>Dina Cappiello, [http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/20100141-418/story.html "Wind farms get pass on eagle deaths"], Associated Press, 14 May 2013.</ref> In November 2013, the federal government obtained its first criminal conviction of a wind power operator for killing protected birds in violation of the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act. [[Duke Energy]] plead guilty, and was fined $1 million, for the deaths of 160 birds, including 14 golden eagles, at two wind farms in Wyoming. The Justice Department charged that Duke had designed and sited the turbines knowing that they would kill birds; Duke noted that it had self-reported the bird deaths, and that US Fish and Wildlife Service guidelines for reducing bird deaths by wind turbines had not been issued when the turbines were built. After they were charged, Duke implemented a radar detection system, at a cost of $600,000 per year, designed to turn off turbines when approached by large birds; the company noted that the system was working, as no golden eagle deaths had been observed in more than a year of operation since the radar was installed.<ref>Soumya Karlamangla, [http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-wind-energy-eagle-death-20131123,0,2938734.story#ixzz2lub6JRWO "Energy company to pay $1 million in wind turbine eagle deaths"], Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2013.</ref><ref>Eyder Peralta, [http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/11/23/246878172/duke-energy-pleads-guilty-over-eagle-deaths-at-wind-farms Duke Energy Pleads Guilty Over Eagle Deaths At Wind Farms"], National Public Radio, 23 Nov. 2013.</ref> In December 2013 the US Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it would issue 30-year permits to wind energy projects to allow for eagle deaths; previously, permits had been available for only 5 years, but none were issued to wind projects. Under the 30-year permits, wind power developers would be required to report eagle deaths, and the permits would be reviewed every 5 years. The measure was intended to remove what was seen as legal uncertainty discouraging wind energy investments. The government said that an environmental review was not needed for the change, because it was only an administrative change.<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/> The new regulation was welcomed by the [[American Wind Energy Association]], which said that wind power caused less than two percent of human-caused eagle fatalities, and pointed out that the rules would require extensive mitigation and monitoring of eagle deaths.<ref>American Wind Energy Association, [http://www.awea.org/MediaCenter/pressrelease.aspx?ItemNumber=5910 AWEA Statement on U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Eagle Permit Tenure Rule], 6 Dec. 2013.</ref> The extension of eagle taking permits from 5 to 30 years was opposed by a number of conservation groups, including the [[American Bird Conservancy]], the [[Nature Conservancy]], the [[Sierra Club]], the [[Audubon Society]], and the Humane Society of the United States.<ref>American Bird Conservancy, [http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/collisions/pdf/Groups_opposed_30yr_eagle_take_permits.pdf Opposition to 30-Year Eagle Take Permits], accessed 8 December 2013.</ref><ref>Audubon Society, [http://www.audubon.org/newsroom/press-releases/2013/interior-dept-rule-greenlights-eagle-slaughter-wind-farms-says-audubon- Interior Dept. Rule Greenlights Eagle Slaughter at Wind Farms, Says Audubon CEO], 5 December 2013.</ref> ==Statistics== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;" ! colspan="15" style="background:#cfb;"| U.S. Wind Generation (GWh, Million kWh) |- ! style="background:#cfb;"| Year ! style="background:#cfb;"| Total ! style="background:#cfb;"| % of total ! style="background:#cfb;"| Jan ! style="background:#cfb;"| Feb ! style="background:#cfb;"| Mar ! style="background:#cfb;"| Apr ! style="background:#cfb;"| May ! style="background:#cfb;"| Jun ! style="background:#cfb;"| Jul ! style="background:#cfb;"| Aug ! style="background:#cfb;" | Sep ! style="background:#cfb;"| Oct ! style="background:#cfb;"| Nov ! style="background:#cfb;"| Dec |-align=right | 1990|| 2,789 || || || || || || || || || || || || || |-align=right | 1991|| 2,951 || || || || || || || || || || || || || |-align=right | 1992|| 2,888 || || || || || || || || || || || || || |-align=right | 1993|| 3,006 || || || || || || || || || || || || || |-align=right | 1994|| 3,447 || || || || || || || || || || || || || |-align=right | 1995|| 3,164 || || || || || || || || || || || || || |-align=right | 1996|| 3,234 || || || || || || || || || || || || || |-align=right | 1997|| 3,288 || || || || || || || || || || || || || |-align=right | 1998|| 3,026 || || || || || || || || || || || || || |-align=right | 1999|| 4,488 || || || || || || || || || || || || || |-align=right | 2000|| 5,593 || || || || || || || || || || || || || |-align=right | 2001|| 6,737 || || || || || || || || || || || || || |-align=right | 2002|| 10,354 || || || || || || || || || || || || || |-align=right | 2003|| 10,729 || || || || || || || || || || || || || |-align=right | 2004|| 14,144 || 0.36% || 999 || 1,022 || 1,291 || 1,295 || 1,702 || 1,397 || 1,164 || 1,051 || 1,090 || 1,029 || 932 || 1,172 |-align=right | 2005|| 14,597 || 0.36% || 899 || 783 || 1,235 || 1,408 || 1,494 || 1,539 || 1,171 || 918 || 1,275 || 1,256 || 1,363 || 1,257 |-align=right | 2006|| 26,589 || 0.65% || 2,383 || 1,922 || 2,359 || 2,472 || 2,459 || 2,052 || 1,955 || 1,655 || 1,879 || 2,442 || 2,540 || 2,472 |-align=right | 2007|| 32,143 || 0.77% || 2,459 || 2,541 || 3,061 || 3,194 || 2,858 || 2,395 || 1,928 || 2,446 || 2,641 || 3,056 || 2,705 || 2,859 |-align=right | 2008|| 55,363 || 1.34% || 4,273 || 3,852 || 4,782 || 5,225 || 5,340 || 5,140 || 4,008 || 3,264 || 3,111 || 4,756 || 4,994 || 6,616 |-align=right | 2009|| 73,886 || 1.87% || 5,951 || 5,852 || 7,099 || 7,458 || 6,262 || 5,599 || 4,955 || 5,464 || 4,651 || 6,814 || 6,875 || 6,906 |-align=right | 2010|| 94,652 || 2.29% || 6,854 || 5,432 || 8,589 || 9,764 || 8,698 || 8,049 || 6,724 || 6,686 || 7,106 || 7,944 || 9,748 || 9,059 |-align=right | 2011|| 120,177|| 2.93% || 8,550 ||10,452 ||10,545 ||12,422 ||11,772 ||10,985 || 7,489 || 7,476 || 6,869 ||10,525 ||12,439 ||10,656 |-align=right | 2012|| 140,822|| 3.48% ||13,632 ||11,052 ||14,026 ||12,709 ||12,541 ||11,972 || 8,822 || 8,469 || 8,790 ||12,636 ||11,649 ||14,524 |-align=right | 2013|| 167,665|| 4.13% ||14,633 ||13,907 ||15,643 ||17,294 ||16,264 ||13,766 ||11,146 || 9,593 ||11,709 ||13,720 ||15,888 ||14,100 |-align=right | 2014|| 181,791|| 4.44% ||17,989 ||14,001 ||17,779 ||18,747 ||15,532 ||15,691 ||12,096 ||10,187 ||11,473 ||14,552 ||18,997 ||14,696 |-align=right | 2015|| 190,927|| 4.67% ||15,258 ||14,964 ||15,361 ||17,835 ||17,060 ||13,398 ||13,632 ||13,040 ||13,859 ||16,391 ||19,693 ||20,067 |-align=right | 2016|| 147,374|| 5.31% ||18,511 ||20,214 ||21,752 ||20,555 ||18,824 ||16,364 ||17,589 ||13,565 || || || || |-align=right | colspan=3|Last entry, % of Total || 5.24%|| 6.44%|| 7.16%|| 7.01%|| 5.92%|| 4.43%|| 4.26%|| 3.30%|| 3.95%|| 5.24%|| 6.54%|| 6.19% |} Source:<ref name="EIAPOWERMONTHLY">{{cite web | url=http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/| title = Electric Power Monthly| format = PDF| work = Report| date = 4 Mar 2015| publisher = U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration}}</ref> {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} {| style="border:solid 1px #aaa;" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="0" |+'''United States Wind Generation in 2015''' |- |<timeline> ImageSize = width:360 height:240 PlotArea = width:300 height:170 left:40 bottom:40 AlignBars = late DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:21000 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical ScaleMajor = unit:month increment:5000 start:0 TextData = pos:(5,240) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:GWh pos:(175,25) textcolor:black fontsize:S text:Month PlotData= color:skyblue width:20 bar:Jan from:start till:15262 bar:Feb from:start till:14959 bar:Mar from:start till:15331 bar:Apr from:start till:17881 bar:May from:start till:17221 bar:Jun from:start till:13477 bar:Jul from:start till:13686 bar:Aug from:start till:13073 bar:Sep from:start till:13916 bar:Oct from:start till:16390 bar:Nov from:start till:19663 bar:Dec from:start till:20067 </timeline> |} {{col-2}} {| style="border:solid 1px #aaa;" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="0" |+'''Texas Wind Generation in 2015''' |- |<timeline> ImageSize = width:360 height:240 PlotArea = width:300 height:170 left:40 bottom:40 AlignBars = late DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:5000 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical ScaleMajor = unit:month increment:1000 start:0 TextData = pos:(5,240) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:GWh pos:(175,25) textcolor:black fontsize:S text:Month PlotData= color:skyblue width:20 bar:Jan from:start till:3164 bar:Feb from:start till:3442 bar:Mar from:start till:2715 bar:Apr from:start till:4195 bar:May from:start till:4428 bar:Jun from:start till:3528 bar:Jul from:start till:4191 bar:Aug from:start till:3415 bar:Sep from:start till:3382 bar:Oct from:start till:3659 bar:Nov from:start till:4792 bar:Dec from:start till:4990 </timeline> |} {{col-end}} {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} {| style="border:solid 1px #aaa;" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="0" |+'''California Wind Generation in 2015''' |- |<timeline> ImageSize = width:360 height:240 PlotArea = width:300 height:170 left:40 bottom:40 AlignBars = late DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:1700 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical ScaleMajor = unit:month increment:200 start:0 TextData = pos:(5,240) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:GWh pos:(175,25) textcolor:black fontsize:S text:Month PlotData= color:skyblue width:20 bar:Jan from:start till:219 bar:Feb from:start till:633 bar:Mar from:start till:827 bar:Apr from:start till:1261 bar:May from:start till:1672 bar:Jun from:start till:1620 bar:Jul from:start till:1433 bar:Aug from:start till:1500 bar:Sep from:start till:821 bar:Oct from:start till:674 bar:Nov from:start till:639 bar:Dec from:start till:928 </timeline> |} {{col-2}} {| style="border:solid 1px #aaa;" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="0" |+'''Iowa Wind Generation in 2012''' |- |<timeline> ImageSize = width:360 height:240 PlotArea = width:300 height:170 left:40 bottom:40 AlignBars = late DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:2100 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical ScaleMajor = unit:month increment:500 start:0 TextData = pos:(5,240) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:GWh pos:(175,25) textcolor:black fontsize:S text:Month PlotData= color:skyblue width:20 bar:Jan from:start till:1826 bar:Feb from:start till:1587 bar:Mar from:start till:1665 bar:Apr from:start till:1619 bar:May from:start till:1619 bar:Jun from:start till:925 bar:Jul from:start till:811 bar:Aug from:start till:1016 bar:Sep from:start till:1330 bar:Oct from:start till:1699 bar:Nov from:start till:2039 bar:Dec from:start till:1833 </timeline> |} {{col-end}} {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} {| style="border:solid 1px #aaa;" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="0" |+'''Oklahoma Wind Generation in 2015''' |- |<timeline> ImageSize = width:360 height:240 PlotArea = width:300 height:170 left:40 bottom:40 AlignBars = late DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:1600 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical ScaleMajor = unit:month increment:200 start:0 TextData = pos:(5,240) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:GWh pos:(175,25) textcolor:black fontsize:S text:Month PlotData= color:skyblue width:20 bar:Jan from:start till:1080 bar:Feb from:start till:1104 bar:Mar from:start till:963 bar:Apr from:start till:1250 bar:May from:start till:1162 bar:Jun from:start till:1135 bar:Jul from:start till:1166 bar:Aug from:start till:987 bar:Sep from:start till:1296 bar:Oct from:start till:1057 bar:Nov from:start till:1596 bar:Dec from:start till:1445 </timeline> |} {{col-2}} {| style="border:solid 1px #aaa;" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="0" |+'''Illinois Wind Generation in 2015''' |- |<timeline> ImageSize = width:360 height:240 PlotArea = width:300 height:170 left:40 bottom:40 AlignBars = late DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:1400 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical ScaleMajor = unit:month increment:200 start:0 TextData = pos:(5,240) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:GWh pos:(175,25) textcolor:black fontsize:S text:Month PlotData= color:skyblue width:20 bar:Jan from:start till:1062 bar:Feb from:start till:977 bar:Mar from:start till:1053 bar:Apr from:start till:1129 bar:May from:start till:948 bar:Jun from:start till:572 bar:Jul from:start till:456 bar:Aug from:start till:501 bar:Sep from:start till:628 bar:Oct from:start till:1167 bar:Nov from:start till:1368 bar:Dec from:start till:1312 </timeline> |} {{col-end}} {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} {| style="border:solid 1px #aaa;" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="0" |+'''Kansas Wind Generation in 2015''' |- |<timeline> ImageSize = width:360 height:240 PlotArea = width:300 height:170 left:40 bottom:40 AlignBars = late DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:1300 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical ScaleMajor = unit:month increment:200 start:0 TextData = pos:(5,240) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:GWh pos:(175,25) textcolor:black fontsize:S text:Month PlotData= color:skyblue width:20 bar:Jan from:start till:926 bar:Feb from:start till:829 bar:Mar from:start till:832 bar:Apr from:start till:1002 bar:May from:start till:922 bar:Jun from:start till:818 bar:Jul from:start till:743 bar:Aug from:start till:702 bar:Sep from:start till:988 bar:Oct from:start till:878 bar:Nov from:start till:1056 bar:Dec from:start till:1244 </timeline> |} {{col-2}} {| style="border:solid 1px #aaa;" cellpadding="7" cellspacing="0" |+'''Minnesota Wind Generation in 2015''' |- |<timeline> ImageSize = width:360 height:240 PlotArea = width:300 height:170 left:40 bottom:40 AlignBars = late DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:1100 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical ScaleMajor = unit:month increment:200 start:0 TextData = pos:(5,240) textcolor:black fontsize:M text:GWh pos:(175,25) textcolor:black fontsize:S text:Month PlotData= color:skyblue width:20 bar:Jan from:start till:1032 bar:Feb from:start till:941 bar:Mar from:start till:1021 bar:Apr from:start till:1017 bar:May from:start till:982 bar:Jun from:start till:625 bar:Jul from:start till:577 bar:Aug from:start till:739 bar:Sep from:start till:672 bar:Oct from:start till:907 bar:Nov from:start till:1098 bar:Dec from:start till:916 </timeline> |} {{col-end}} ==See also== {{Portal|Renewable energy|United States}} * GA Mansoori, N Enayati, LB Agyarko (2016), [http://www.worldscientific.com/worldscibooks/10.1142/9699 Energy: Sources, Utilization, Legislation, Sustainability, Illinois as Model State], World Sci. Pub. Co., ISBN 978-981-4704-00-7 *[[American Wind Energy Association]] *[[List of wind farms in the United States]] *[[Renewable energy in the United States]] *[[List of onshore wind farms]] *[[Wind ENergy Data & Information (WENDI) Gateway]] *[[Wind power in Texas]] *[[Solar power in the United States]] *[[Geothermal energy in the United States]] *[[Biofuel in the United States]] *[[Hydroelectric power in the United States]] *[[List of renewable energy topics by country|Renewable energy by country]] {{Clear}} ==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=25em|refs= <ref name="EWEA 2013">{{cite web |url=http://ewea.org/index.php?id=1486 |title=Wind in power: 2011 European statistics |author=EWEA |year=2012 |work= }}</ref> }} ==External links== {{Commons category multi|Wind power in the United States|Wind farms in the United States}} *[http://hint.fm/wind/ Wind Map] *[http://css.snre.umich.edu/css_doc/CSS07-09.pdf Wind Energy in the U.S. Factsheet] by the [[University of Michigan]]'s [http://www.css.snre.umich.edu/ Center for Sustainable Systems] *[http://www.energy.gov/windvision A New Era for Wind Power in the United States], a 2013 DOE report {{Wind power in the United States}} {{Wind power}} {{Energy in the USA}} {{Wind power by country}}{{Renewable energy by country}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Wind Power In The United States}} [[Category:Wind power in the United States| ]] [[Category:Articles containing video clips]]'