US wind power capacity rises nearly 2,500 MW in 2005

Washington (Platts)--24Jan2006

US wind turbine installations in 2005 totaled 2,431 MW in 22 states,
according to the American Wind Energy Assn, which said the figure was just
short of the 2,500 MW it had expected because several projects were
subject to weather-related delays. 

     Instead of the slow year that has previously followed boom years for the
industry, 2006 is expected to be even bigger, with installations topping 3,000
MW, AWEA said Tuesday. The previous record capacity figure was set in 2001,
when 1,697 MW of new capacity was installed. 

     California is the state with the most wind turbine capacity, with 2,150
MW of installations, but Texas is gaining fast with 1,995 MW installed and
more proposed for 2006, AWEA said. Iowa remains in third place with 836 MW
installed. Minnesota is in fourth with 744 MW, and Oklahoma moves into fifth
place with 475 MW, the group added. 

     FPL Energy was the project developer responsible for adding the most new
wind power capacity in 2005, with more than 500 MW added to its fleet, AWEA
said. PPM Energy was in second place this past year, adding 394 MW of
capacity. Horizon Wind Energy added 220 MW, Invenergy 200 MW, and enXco 150
MW, it added.

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