About Wind Energy
Wind power is renewable energy. As portions of the earth are heated by the
sun, air rushes to fill the low pressure areas, creating wind power. Wind can
be slowed dramatically by friction as it brushes the ground and vegetation.
Often, it may not feel very windy at ground level, but at the height of a 40-
story building (the height of the blade tip on a large, modern wind turbine)
wind-speeds can be 5 to 7 times greater. Wind is often accelerated by
major land forms such as mountains with the result being entire areas of the
country may be very windy while other areas are relatively calm. For
unknown reasons, America’s founders tended to build our cities and towns
where the wind doesn't’t blow strongly and consequently the vast majority of
Americans don’t live in windy areas. Today, wind power is predominantly a
rural phenomenon, with electricity generated by wind turbines sent over the
nation’s electrical grid to homes and businesses in urban centers.
sun, air rushes to fill the low pressure areas, creating wind power. Wind can
be slowed dramatically by friction as it brushes the ground and vegetation.
Often, it may not feel very windy at ground level, but at the height of a 40-
story building (the height of the blade tip on a large, modern wind turbine)
wind-speeds can be 5 to 7 times greater. Wind is often accelerated by
major land forms such as mountains with the result being entire areas of the
country may be very windy while other areas are relatively calm. For
unknown reasons, America’s founders tended to build our cities and towns
where the wind doesn't’t blow strongly and consequently the vast majority of
Americans don’t live in windy areas. Today, wind power is predominantly a
rural phenomenon, with electricity generated by wind turbines sent over the
nation’s electrical grid to homes and businesses in urban centers.
Learn About Wind Energy
American Innovation and Wind Energy
Today, the United States harnesses more than 10,000 megawatts (mW) of
electric energy from wind; enough to meet the needs of 2.5 million average
American homes. And, the Department of Energy predicts, with additional
research, wind energy could provide much more . . . as much 20% of
America’s energy needs.
But, did you know that the modern wind turbine was invented in Cleveland
in 1887? The famous inventor of the arc light and co-founder of General
Electric, Charles Brush, built a large wind turbine in the backyard of his
Cleveland home which generated energy for more than 20 years. In
addition, many of the amazing advances in wind turbine technology were
developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and much
of the wind energy industry's success worldwide can be attributed to the
research conducted at the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC). The
pioneering research of these two organizations in the Department of
Energy has directly led to the development of today’s multi-megawatt wind
turbines that produce electric energy at a cost that is now competitive with
conventional energy sources like fossil-fuels and nuclear.
Today, the United States harnesses more than 10,000 megawatts (mW) of
electric energy from wind; enough to meet the needs of 2.5 million average
American homes. And, the Department of Energy predicts, with additional
research, wind energy could provide much more . . . as much 20% of
America’s energy needs.
But, did you know that the modern wind turbine was invented in Cleveland
in 1887? The famous inventor of the arc light and co-founder of General
Electric, Charles Brush, built a large wind turbine in the backyard of his
Cleveland home which generated energy for more than 20 years. In
addition, many of the amazing advances in wind turbine technology were
developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and much
of the wind energy industry's success worldwide can be attributed to the
research conducted at the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC). The
pioneering research of these two organizations in the Department of
Energy has directly led to the development of today’s multi-megawatt wind
turbines that produce electric energy at a cost that is now competitive with
conventional energy sources like fossil-fuels and nuclear.
States That Have a Renewable Energy Policy
Many States now mandate that a certain percentage of energy consumed
is obtained from renewable sources like wind. As of June 2007, 24 States
& the District of Columbia have renewable energy standards in place.
Four additional States, Illinois, Missouri, Virginia, & Vermont, have non
binding goals promoting renewable energy.
State Amount By Year
Arizona
15%
2025
California
20%
2010
Colorado
20%
2020
Connecticut
23%
2020
District of Columbia
11%
2022
Delaware
20%
2019
Hawaii
20%
2020
Iowa
105 MW
Illinois
25%
2025
Massachusetts
4%
2009
Maryland
9.5%
2022
Maine
10%
2017
Minnesota
25%
2025
Missouri
11%
2020
Montana
15%
2015
New Hampshire
16%
2025
New Jersey
22.5%
2021
New Mexico
20%
2020
Nevada
20%
2015
New York
24%
2013
North Carolina
12.5%
2021
Oregon
25%
2025
Pennsylvania
18%
2020
Rhode Island
15%
2020
Texas
5,880 MW
2015
Vermont*
10%
2013
Virginia*
12%
2022
Washington
15%
2020
Wisconsin
10%
2015
Source: U.S. Department of Energy June 2007
Federal Support
The Federal tax code provides a variety of permanent and temporary
incentives for conventional forms of energy, also includes a production tax
credit (PTC) for wind energy and a 5-year accelerated depreciation
schedule for wind turbines. The 1.5 cent-per-kWh PTC is adjusted for
inflation (currently it stands at 1.9 cents per kWh) and supports electricity
generated from utility-scale wind turbines for the first ten years of their
operation. The PTC, first adopted in 1992, was extended in 1999, again,
through 2003 after its expiration in 2001, and most recently through
December 31, 2008.
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