New Report: record-breaking year for wind energy in the United States

In 2009 the US wind energy industry installed a record-breaking 10,000 megawatts of new capacity, according to a new report released today by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). That's enough electricity to power 2.4 million homes.

In the 4th quarter of 2009 alone, the wind energy industry brought 4,000 MW of new capacity online.

“The U.S. wind energy industry shattered all installation records in 2009, chalking up the Recovery Act as a historic success in creating jobs, avoiding carbon, and protecting consumers,” says AWEA CEO Denise Bode.

The American Recovery and Investment Act, introduced last year by the Obama administration to battle the recession has invested more than $80 billion in clean energy, with much of that going invested in the wind power sector. On the White House blog today, Heather Zichal, Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, wrote in reaction to the positive wind energy numbers that:

"Across the country, communities are beginning to establish the clean energy industries that will power the 21st century global economy.  Just last week, President Obama got to see firsthand how clean energy investments are putting people to work during his visit to the Wind Turbine Manufacturing and Fab Lab facilities at Lorain County Community College (LCCC) in Elyria, Ohio.  LCCC is offering the first associate's degree credit program in Ohio in the burgeoning field of wind turbine power generation."

Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) co-author of the Waxman-Markey clean energy bill, praised the results of the assessment: "In 2009, America's wind capacity grew by nearly 40 percent - blowing past the expectations that existed prior to the passage of the Recovery Act, These numbers show the potential for growth in clean energy, if only our country will make a commitment to these technologies."

The full AWEA report can be found here [pdf]: American Wind Energy Association 2009 Year End Report