Date: 2024-04-29 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00006720
Energy ... Renewables
Wind
US WIND POWER CAPACITY TRIPLED SINCE 2008
Burgess COMMENTARY
Peter Burgess
US WIND POWER CAPACITY TRIPLED SINCE 2008
September 2013: According to a new report by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), wind power capacity in the United States has more than tripled between 2008-2012, to over 60 gigawatts in total. In 2012, wind was America’s largest source of new electrical capacity, accounting for 43% of all new installations.
The report attributes the growth to the rising amount of electricity generated by single wind turbines; greater scale of production which helps drive down costs; and the increasing amount of time that turbines are able to generate electricity, due to improved understanding of wind patterns on the part of operators.
With continued technology improvements and policy support, the DOE estimates that as much as 20% of projected US electricity demand could be met by wind power by 2030.
Related Quick Facts:
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“IN RECENT YEARS, COSTS FOR NUMEROUS CRITICAL CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES - WIND POWER, SOLAR PANELS, SUPER ENERGY-EFFICIENT LED LIGHTS AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES - HAVE FALLEN SIGNIFICANTLY. THE ACCOMPANYING SURGE IN DEPLOYMENT HAS BEEN TRULY SPECTACULAR…THE CLEAN TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION IS UPON US.” ... Dr. Ernest Moniz, US Secretary of Energy