Given that the capacity had reached 10,000 MW last August, the growth seen in the last four months of 2006 was simply spectacular: 1,600 MW, or 400 MW per month on average.
America's current capacity equals Spain's, now at 11,615 MW, on the second position of the wind table, just behind Germany which remains clearly on top.
2006 was the second consecutive year in which wind power was the second largest source of new electricity capacity, behind natural gas thermal plants. According to the AWEA, the total capacity installed at present will be able to generate around 31 billion kWh during 2007, enough to power 2.7 million homes and preventing the emission of 23 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Texas, with 774 new megawatts, represents one third of all the new capacity installed. The Lone Star state has now passed California as the number one state in wind power capacity. Last year, Washington was second in new capacity, at 428 MW, California third with 212 MW, New York fourth with 185 MW and Minnesota fifth with 150 MW. AWEA has identified the states of Iowa, Minnesota and Pennsylvania as the main center for turbine and component production.
The wind energy push is expected to continue after the extension of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) by the Federal Government. The extension is only for one year (2008 instead of 2007), reason why AWEA has called for a new extension valid for 5 more years.
"The industry has demonstrated a generous return on the investment of both private and public investment in wind" said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher, "extending the PTC five years will significantly increase the progress America is making in expanding its use of new forms of energy when they've never been needed more".
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