1. American Wind Energy Association
Annual Wind Industry Report
Y E AR E ND I N G 2 0 0 8

2. AWEA conducted the research for this report with the help of AWEA business members
and public data sources. Data should not be resold or used without citation.

3. Table of Contents
Wind Energy Industry Growth in 2008 2
Policy 3
U.S. Wind Project Growth 4
Global Capacity Growth 6
“20% Wind Energy Scenario” Report Card 7
Wind Project Installations by State 8
Turbine Manufacturers 10
Project Owners 11
Utility Wind Power Rankings 12
Projects 14
Utility Scale Turbines 15
Manufacturing 16
Wind Industry Employment 17
U.S. Small Wind Market 18
AWEA Membership 19
Definitions 20
Appendix: 2008 Projects List 21
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4. Wind Energy Industry Growth in 2008
The U.S. market for small wind turbines – those with
In 2008, the U.S. wind energy industry brought online The amount that the industry brought online in the 4th quarter
capacities of 100 kW and under – grew 96% in 2008 with
over 8,500 megawatts (MW) of new wind power capacity, alone – 4,313 MW – exceeds annual additions for every year
an additional 19 MW of installed capacity. This growth was
increasing the nation’s cumulative total by 50% to over except 2007. In all, wind power generating capacity in the
largely attributable to increased private equity investment
25,300 MW and pushing the U.S. above Germany as the U.S. now stands at 25,369 MW, producing enough electricity
for manufacturing, which allowed equipment supply and
country with the largest amount of wind power capacity to power the equivalent of close to 7 million households and
availability to increase. The industry projects 30-fold growth
installed. The new installations place the U.S. on a trajectory strengthening our national electricity supply with a clean,
within as little as five years, for a total installed capacity of
to generate 20% of the nation’s electricity by 2030 from wind inexhaustible, homegrown source of energy.
1,700 MW, due primarily to the new 30% federal Investment
energy as long as the industry continues to garner long-term
Tax Credit passed by Congress in October 2008 and
policy support. Wind projects installed through the end of 2008 generated
over 1.25% of the nation’s electricity in 2008. enhanced in February 2009.
The growth in 2008 channeled an investment of some
$17 billion into the economy, positioning wind power as Nearly 4,000 MW of projects that could have been
one of the leading sources of new power generation in commissioned in 2008 will now be brought online in the early
the country along with natural gas. The new wind projects part of 2009. AWEA expects over 5,000 MW of new capacity
completed in 2008 account for about 42% of the entire new to be commissioned in 2009.
power-producing capacity added nationally during the year,
according to initial estimates, and will avoid nearly 44 million
tons of carbon emissions--the equivalent of taking over 7
million cars off the road.
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5. Policy
With the legislation passed, AWEA now turns its attention to
A stable policy environment helps encourage investment The new law authorizes an additional $1.6 billion of new
in wind equipment production facilities. Wind turbine and clean renewable energy bonds to be distributed to its next major legislative priorities: the effort to enact a national
renewable electricity standard and pass legislation to support
turbine component manufacturers announced, added tribal governments, public power providers, and electric
or expanded over 70 facilities in the past two years, cooperatives to finance facilities that generate electricity from construction of Green Power Superhighways (transmission
lines) that are needed to enable renewable development.
including over 55 in 2008 alone. The renewable energy renewable resources.
AWEA is also moving quickly to help ensure that the
measures in the stimulus bill will help sustain that
economic recovery bill is implemented in a way that is most
momentum and encourage additional clean energy It also provides a new 30% credit for investment in qualified
investment and job creation. property used in a “qualified advanced energy manufacturing effective for promoting wind power deployment.
project.”
AWEA and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of Provisions that will facilitate the planning and building of recently released a white paper titled “Green Power
Superhighways: Building a Path to America’s Clean Energy
2009. The legislation includes a three-year extension of new transmission lines include $3.25 billion in additional
Future,” detailing current inadequacies of the U.S. electric
the production tax credit (PTC) and a new program that borrowing authority each for the Bonneville Power
allows renewable energy developers the option of forgoing Administration and Western Area Power Administration for transmission infrastructure and offering policy solutions
to address them. Inadequate transmission capacity is a
the PTC and instead securing a grant from the Treasury transmission lines constructed after February 17, 2009, that
department in the amount of a 30% investment tax credit deliver power from renewable energy resources. In addition, significant barrier to renewable energy development in
the U.S.--the white paper emphasizes that the nation’s
(ITC). This program to help monetize renewable tax credits is the law provides $4.5 billion for DOE’s Office of Electricity
renewable energy resources cannot reach their full potential
considered critical for the wind industry to continue its growth Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) program to accelerate
in the face of the economic downturn, which has dramatically the hiring of personnel, for worker training, for subsequent without renewed investment in transmission infrastructure.
reduced the ability to secure value for renewable tax credits. legislation on transmission improvements and to provide a
resource assessment of future demand and transmission
To help consumers buy small wind systems, the recovery bill requirements. OE, in coordination with FERC, is also directed
also removed the $4,000 cap on the small wind ITC. Small to provide technical assistance for the development of
wind investors are now allowed to claim a full 30% ITC for interconnection-wide transmission plans for the Eastern and
qualified small wind energy property. Western Interconnections and ERCOT.
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6. U.S. Wind Project Growth
FIGURE 1: NAtIoNAl CApACIty GRoWth
Net Capacity Additions Cumulative Capacity
year Net Capacity Cumulative
Additions Capacity
25000
1981-1983 240 240
1984-1986 982 1,222
1987-1989 181 1,403
20000
1990-1992 181 1,584
1993-1995 119 1,703
1996 1 1,703
15000
1997 8 1,711
Capacity (MW)
1998 142 1,853
1999 659 2,512
2000 67 2,579
10000
2001 1,694 4,273
2002 412 4,685
2003 1,672 6,357
2004 372 6,729 5000
2005 2,420 9,149
2006 2,454 11,575
2007 5,249 16,823
0
2008 8,545 25,369
81-83 84-86 87-89 90-92 93-95 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Wind capacity additions in 2008 were 8558 MW. 12.5 MW of wind power were decommissioned.
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7. to 35% in 2007 and 42% in 2008. Wind and natural gas
With the OPEC oil embargo as backdrop, the modern wind
FIGURE 2: % AS NEW CApACIty
together have represented close to 90% of all new generation
industry got its start in the U.S. in the 1970s. The Federal
capacity added since 2005.
renewable energy research program was launched in 1974, 100%
one year after the embargo, and AWEA was incorporated in
Large numbers of wind power projects are proposed in
the same year.
80%
every region of the country with strong wind resources. As
illustrated by this chart, close to 300,000 MW of proposed
Federal and State investment tax credits drove a flurry of
Sources: Ventyx, SNL, AWEA, SEIA, Berkeley Lab
60%
wind projects are currently waiting in line to connect to the
activity in the early 1980s that would recede late in the
Other
grid. The proposed wind projects in these queues have
decade due to massive cuts in government funding. The
Dual-Fired
40%
applied for interconnection to the grid, but most of these
average turbine size in the 1980s was 100 kW; and power
Petroleum
wind plants cannot be built because there is insufficient
cost more than 30 cents/kWh due to mechanical difficulties
Coal
transmission capacity to carry the electricity they would
and low equipment availability rates. 20%
Natural Gas
produce. While not all of these wind projects will ultimately be
The first federal production tax credit (PTC) was passed in Wind
built, it is still clear that wind power development is outpacing 0%
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct) to expire for the first the expansion and modernization of our electric grid.
time in mid-1999. The early 2000s were characterized by a
roller coaster of annual installations as the PTC was allowed Renewable Electricity as a percentage of U.S. Electricity FIGURE 3: INtERCoNNECtIoN QUEUE
to lapse, then extended, three times. Wind energy production has grown at record rates in recent
years, diversifying the nation’s electricity mix. In 2008, wind 60000
The industry has now enjoyed four years of record growth Proposed
generated 52 million megawatt-hours (MWh) representing
50000
due to relatively stable policy support. 2009 is not expected 1.26% of all generation. This was a 51% jump in generation
to see growth as strong as in 2008, but with the federal compared to the 34.5 million MWh generated in 2007, which
Interior West and Pacific Northwest
Capacity (MW)
40000
policies recently enacted, the industry will likely install at least was 0.83% of all generation.
5,000 MW of new capacity and return faster than it otherwise 30000
would have to a trajectory of rapid expansion. All non-hydro renewable generation increased from 2.5% in
20000
New York
2007 to 3% in 2008. Wind energy now contributes over 42%
Upper Midwest
New England
Central Plains
Figure 2 shows the growing importance of the wind industry
MidAtlantic
of all non-hydro renewable generation, up from 33% in 2007.
California
10000
to the larger electric generation industry. Wind was less
Texas
Total generation in 2008 was 4,115 million MWh, which was a
0
than 2% of all the new capacity added in 2004, increasing 1% decrease from 2007 generation.
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8. Global Capacity Growth
Over 27,000 MW of new wind power generation capacity Also in 2008, the U.S. overtook Germany (23,902 MW) as China also exhibited very rapid growth and is on its way to
came on line worldwide in 2008, bringing the total global the country with the most wind power capacity installed. overtake Germany and Spain to reach second place in terms
wind power capacity to over 120,000 MW through the end According the Global Wind Energy Council , Europe and of total wind power capacity in 2010. China would then have
of 2008. North America each added about 8,900 MW of new installed met its 2020 target of 30,000 MW (30 GW) a full ten years
capacity during the year, with Asia close behind at 8,600 MW. ahead of schedule.
FIGURE 4: RENEWAblE ElECtRICIty AS pERCENtAGE oF U.S. ElECtRICIty FIGURE 5: WoRlD WIND poWER CApACIty GRoWth
150000
Other
Rest of the World – 33109 MW
BioMass
13.8%
India – 9645 MW
Wind
42.0%
Geothermal China – 12210 MW
12.1% 120000
Spain – 16754 MW
Germany – 23903 MW
Wood
31.4% United States – 25369 MW
Other
90000
Capacity (MW)
Other
0.3%
Renewables
3.0% Solar
Hydro
Nuclear 0.7%
6.1%
19.7%
60000
Natural Gas
21.6%
30000
Coal
48.5%
Petroleum and 0
Petroleum Coke
1.1% 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
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9. “20% Wind Energy Scenario” Report Card
The U.S. Department of Energy’s report, 20% Wind costs of energy sources, U.S. wind energy resources, The actual installation levels for 2008 were more than
Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy’s Contribution and the environmental and economic impacts of wind double what the report deemed necessary to meet the
to U.S. Electricity Supply, found that reaching a level of development. Under the 20% wind scenario, installations 2030 goal. Even given the lower numbers projected
20% wind energy by 2030 was feasible under one closely of new wind power capacity would increase to more than for 2009, installations for 2009 will be 20% higher than
examined scenario. 16,000 megawatts per year by 2018, and continue at the report projected. A cumulative installed capacity
roughly that rate through 2030. A total of 300,000 MW of of over 25,300 MW was not estimated to be met until
Included in the report are an examination of America’s land based and offshore wind power capacity would have late 2010.
technological and manufacturing capabilities, the future to be installed to meet that level of electricity production.
FIGURE 6: ANNUAl ACtUAl INStAllAtIoNS CoMpARED to pRoJECtED FIGURE 7: ACtUAl totAl CApACIty CoMpARED to pRoJECtED
20 350
land based
offshore
18
300
16
Capacity Additions
Actual Installed Capacity (GW)
Cumulative Installed Capacity (GW)
250
in 20% Scenario
14
12
200
10
Projects Installations
2008: 8,500 MW
150
8
Installed capacity as of
January 2009 => 25 GW
6
Source: DOE’s 20% by 2030 Report
Source: DOE’s 20% by 2030 Report
100
so industry is three years
Actual Installations ahead of schedule
2007: 5,249 MW 4
Due to the economic
50
crisis, 2009 will be
much more in line 2
with predictions
0
0
2000 2006 2012 2018 2024 2030
2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030
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10. Wind Project Installations by State
Texas once again installed the largest amount of new
FIGURE 8: WIND poWER CApACIty INStAllAtIoNS by StAtE
capacity in 2008— 2,671 MW — moving it into a league of
its own. More new wind capacity was added in Texas during
Texas
the year than in any country except China and the U.S. If Iowa
California
Texas were a country, it would rank sixth in the world, behind
through 2007
Minnesota
Germany, the rest of the U.S., Spain, China, and India. Washington 1Q08
Colorado
2Q08
Oregon
Iowa surged into second place in the U.S., behind only Illinois 3Q08
New York
Texas. California, once the location of practically all the wind 4Q08
Oklahoma
power activity in the U.S., now ranks third for wind project Kansas
North Dakota
capacity.
Most Capacity Added in 2008 Capacity
Wyoming
New Mexico
Wisconsin Texas 2671.3 MW
Oregon moved into the club of states with more than 1,000
Pennsylvania
MW installed, which now numbers seven: Texas, Iowa, West Virginia Iowa 1599.8 MW
Montana
California, Minnesota, Washington, Colorado, and Oregon. Minnesota 455.65 MW
South Dakota
Missouri
Kansas 450.3 MW
Indiana
Indiana saw its first utility-scale project installed in 2008 — a Michigan
New York 407 MW
Idaho
130.5-MW facility developed by Orion Energy Group. Other
Nebraska
fast-growing states include Michigan, which added 127 Hawaii
Fastest Growing % Growth
Maine
MW to its end-2007 total of 2.6 MW; Utah, which boosted
Tennessee
its total to 20 MW from its previous total of 1 MW; New Indiana first utility-scale project
New Hampshire
Utah
Hampshire, which saw the addition of a 24-MW plant; Michigan 48x
New Jersey
Wisconsin, which added three large wind projects; and Ohio
Utah 21x
Vermont
West Virginia, which quadrupled its end-of-2007 total.
Massachusetts New Hampshire 17x
Alaska
Wisconsin 6x
Rhode Island
Arkansas
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000
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11. Two states – Minnesota and Iowa – now get over 7% of their
FIGURE 9-10: % GENERAtIoN AND MW INStAllED
power needs from wind and thirteen get more than 2%.
Figure 9 shows states penetration, with top 5 states including: % Generation by State legislative Districts with Most Installed >1000 MW
>5%
100 to 1000 MW
1% to 5%
WA
WA <100 MW
MN: 7.48% (up from 4.60% in 2007) <1% District Wind Capacity
ME 1447
3.28% MW
VT
.75%
Installed (MW)
ND
VT
ND MT
MT
IA: 7.10% (up from 5.46%) MN
714 MW
OR
4.86% 6
OR 1.89% 272MW
MN NH MW
1067 MW
4.3% ID WI ID
NY
7.48% WI 832
SD
SD 1754
Co: 5.91% (up from 1.34%) MI
WY
.66% MW
75 MW
1.68% .92%
TX-19 2,966 NY
MW
395
WY MI
1.9% 187 MW
129 MW
MW
.10% 676
2.0%
PA
IA PA
IA
ND: 4.86% (up from 1.83%) Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R)
MW
8
361 MW
.33% NE
NE NJ 2791 MW
7.10% OH
OH MW
IN
IL
.03% NV
NV IN
.67% 72 MW
IL 7 MW
UT UT
1.06% .18% 915 MW 131
NM: 4.41% (up from 3.86%) WV
CA CA
MD M
CO
WV
CO
TX-11 1,736
MW
330
KS
2.67% 20 MW
.42% MO
2517 MW
KS VA VA
5.91% MO 1068 MW MW
KY KY
815 MW
3.85% .21% 163 MW
Rep. Mike Conaway (R)
NC NC
29 MW TN
OK
TN .05%
Some of the largest states by MW do not fall into the top 5 OK AR 831 MW
AZ
AZ NM
NM 3.0% SC SC
IA-4 1,645AR
TX
497MW
4.41%
list by penetration given the states of Texas, Washington, and GA GA
AL AL
MS MS
Rep. Tom Latham (R)
TX 7118 MW
3
.10%
California have a much higher in-state generation demand.
MW
3.52% LA LA
Alaska Alaska
Hawaii Hawaii
63 MW
TX-17 1,251
2.09% FL FL
Rep. Chet Edwards (D)
The legislative districts with the most wind power installed
as of the end of 2008 are all in the top two states, Texas and IA-5 1,144
Iowa. Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R ) has the largest amount Rep. Steve King (R)
MW Installed by State >1000 MW
>5%
of wind power in his district, more than the entire state of
100 to 1000 MW
1% to 5%
WA
California. These rankings are for House Congressional
WA <100 MW
<1%
ME 1447 MW
3.28% ME
VT
.75% ND
VT 47 MW
ND MT
MT
districts. The Senators from the states with most wind power MN
714 MW
OR
4.86% 6
OR 1.89% 272MW
MN 25
NH MW
1067 MW NH
4.3% ID WI ID
NY
7.48% WI 832
installed are, as previouslySDindicated in the State rankings,
MW
SD 1754 5 MW
MI
WY
.66% MW
75 MW
1.68% .92% NY
MW
395
WY MI
1.9% 187 MW
RI
129 MW
MW
.10% 676
2.0%
from Texas, Iowa, California, Minnesota, and Washington. 1 MW
PA
IA PA
IA
MW
8 NJ
361 MW
.33% NE
NE NJ 2791 MW
7.10% OH
OH MW
IN
IL
.03% NV
NV IN
.67% 72 MW
IL 7 MW
UT UT
1.06% .18% 915 MW 131 WV
CA CA
MD MD
CO
WV
CO MW
330
KS
2.67% 20 MW
.42% MO
2517 MW
KS
Wind projects boost local tax bases, helping to pay for VA VA
5.91% MO 1068 MW MW
KY KY
815 MW
3.85% .21% 163 MW
NC NC
29 MW TN
schools, AZ
roads and hospitals. WindAR
projects.05% revitalize the
TN also OK
OK
831 MW
AZ NM
NM 3.0% SC SC
TX
economy of rural communities by providing AL GA income to
steady 497MW
4.41% AR
GA
AL
MS MS
TX 7118 MW
3 MW
farmers and other landowners. EachLA
wind turbine contributes
.10% 3.52% LA
Alaska Alaska
Hawaii Hawaii
63 MW
$3,000 to $5,000 or more per year in rental income, while
2.09% FL FL
farmers continue to grow crops or graze cattle up to the foot
of the turbines.
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