Report: Iowa still ranked second in wind power

Apr 8 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Dave DeWitte The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

America's wind power industry grew by 15 percent in 2010 and provided 26 percent of all new electric generating capacity in the United States, according to the American Wind Energy Association. The report said the wind industry added 5,116 megawatts of capacity in 2010 That left wind installations with 40,181 megawatts, enough to supply electricity for over 10 million American homes.

'The American wind industry is delivering, despite competing with energy sectors that have permanent government subsidies in place,' said Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).

'Wind is consistently performing,' she said, 'adding 35 percent of all new generating capacity since 2007 -- that's twice what coal and nuclear added combined.' Iowa remained second in its wind generating capacity among the states in the group's U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report, with 3,675 megawatts of generating capacity. The state added only 5 megawatts of generating capacity in 2010, however. Texas ranked first among states in generating capacity, at 10,085 megawatts. It added 680 megawatts of capacity.

Third-ranking California added 455 megawatts in 2010, reaching 3,177 megawatts of wind generating capacity.

Total wind capacity additions in 2010 nationwide fell by nearly 50 percent, the report said, from 10,000 megawatts of capacity in 2009, to 5,116 megawatts.

The report cited the economy and reduced electricity demand among the major reasons for the slowdown in wind development. It said growth could improve in 2011, noting the one-year extension of the federal tax credit program that provides an incentive to develop wind energy, and 5,600 megawatts of new wind capacity already under construction.

-- Comments: (319) 398-8317; david.dewitte@sourcemedia.net