Aug. 6

The United States generates more electricity from wind than any other nation in the world, and development is on track to increase another 45 percent this year, according to the American Wind Energy Association´s second quarter market report.

Total U.S. installed wind power capacity is 19,549 megawatts. The industry installed 1,194 megawatts during the second quarter, down from 1,532 megawatts during the first quarter this year.

"But the current figures hide a dire reality," said Randall Swisher, executive director of the AWEA. "The pipeline of investment for 2009 has been on hold for months, with escalating risks and costs for the industry because of the uncertainty about the production tax credit."

The PTC sunsets Dec. 31. The AWEA is urging Congress to extend the credit to ensure continued growth of the wind power industry. The AWEA´s second quarter market report is available at www.awea.org/publications/reports/2Q08.pdf .

Contact Waste News reporter Joe Truini at (330) 865-6166 or jtruini@crain.com

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