Wind Power Installations Are Up, but Manufacturing Lags
The U.S. wind industry installed 1,649 megawatts of power generating power during the third quarter, according to the third quarter market report of the American Wind Energy Association. The wind industry so far has added 5,800 megawatts of total capacity. The amount of added capacity during the third quarter is higher than the second quarter of 2009 or the third quarter of 2008.
Yet the AWEA says that wind turbine manufacturing lags behind 2008 levels, both in production and in new announcements–not surprising during this recession but still disappointing.
Wind power installations are up, and that is good news for America’s economy, environment, and energy security,” said AWEA CEO Denise Bode. “But manufacturing, which has the potential to employ many more Americans in good, clean energy jobs, remains uncertain. A firm, long-term national commitment to renewable energy is still needed for the U.S. to become a wind turbine manufacturing powerhouse and create hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Furthermore, AWEA doesn’t expect the fourth quarter of this year to be as strong as the fourth quarter of 2008 since the 5,000 megawatts now under construction is nearly 38% lower than the over 8,000 megawatts under construction at this time last year.
Arizona, which just installed its first utility-scale project, posted the highest wind power growth rate in the third quarter. Texas far outstripped any other state, both in additions of new wind power capacity during the third quarter and total wind operating capacity.
