The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) recently announced that the wind industry experienced its third strongest year on record in 2019, as developers added 9,143 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity to the grid. Another 44,000 MW (over $62 billion in investment) are either under construction or in advanced development. Utilities and businesses set a new record in 2019, as well, announcing 8,726 MW in new Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). East Coast states continued to drive demand for offshore wind, with 16 gigawatts (GW) pledged in 2019. These findings and more can be found in AWEA’s newly released U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2019 Market Report.
“The demand and growth of U.S. wind energy can’t be understated,” said AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan in the release. “Today, there are nearly 60,000 wind turbines spinning across 41 states powering the equivalent of over 32 million American homes. Demand for wind energy is greater than ever as evidenced by corporations and utilities signing contracts in record numbers.”
Other findings include:
- 4Q 2019 saw 35 new wind projects totaling 5,476 MW in 16 states, with Texas leading the pack with 1,808 MW, followed by Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota and Illinois.
- At the end of 2019, 191 projects were under construction or in advanced development.
- Offshore wind farms now represent 17% of the overall wind development pipeline.
- Wind farm construction and advanced development pipeline are up +24% YOY.
To learn more, read the full report from AWEA.