The U.S. wind power industry installed 1,649 MW of new capacity in the third quarter with Texas, Oregon and Illinois the top states for new farms.
The additions top those in the same quarter last year and represent an investment of nearly $6.5 billion. The fourth quarter, however, is unlikely to be as impressive. The nation has 5,000 MW of projects under construction compared with 8,000 MW at the same time in 2008, said the American Wind Energy Association.
In the third quarter, growth was fastest in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Wyoming and New Mexico. Texas added the most – 436 MW – followed by Oregon, which installed 251 MW.
The country now has 31,000 MW of wind power or enough to power 9 million homes. The top states for installations are Texas, Iowa and California.
