The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) announced Monday that America's wind industry built 5,115 megawatts (MW) of wind power in 2010, approximately half of 2009's pace, but entered 2011 with over 5,600 MW currently under construction.
"Wind power is a great deal right now in many areas of the country," said Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). "However, our industry continues to endure a boom-bust cycle because of the lack of long-term, predictable federal policies, in contrast to the permanent entitlements that fossil fuels have enjoyed for 90 years or more.
In Q4 2010, 3,195 MW of wind-powered electric generating capacity came online, compared to the 4,113 MW installed in Q4 2009, but still up significantly from the 670 MW installed in Q3 2010.
The 5,600 MW of electric power currently under construction were boosted by the one-year extension of the 1603 Investment Tax Credit for renewable energy granted by the 111th Congress in the final days of 2010, and 2011 is expected to finish stronger than 2010.
In the US, total wind capacity stands at 40,180 MW, a 15 percent increase over capacity at the start of 2010 according to the AWEA. US capacity is still second to China, which has 41,800 MW in operation, an increase of 62 percent compared to a year ago.