Talking About Green

“U.S. Wind Power Capacity Vaults to Top Spot due to Rapid Growth.” That was yesterday’s positive news from the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The U.S. wind energy industry shattered all previous records in 2008, installing 8,358 megawatts (MW) of new generating capacity and placing the United States above all other nations in terms of installed wind power capacity. That increased our wind capacity by 50 percent to a total of 25,170 MW. Remember though that a 50 percent increase of very little is easier than 50 percent over a large number!

That’s enough to push the United States above Germany, the previous leader for installed wind power capacity. According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), Germany had 22,247 MW of wind capacity at the start of the year, but added only 1,665 MW in 2008, bringing it to 23,903 MW, more than 2,000 MW short of the new U.S. total. But look at the size of Germany!

Overall, global wind power capacity increased by 28.8% in 2008, with more than 27,000 MW of new generating capacity, increasing the global wind power capacity to 120,791 MW, according to the GWEC.

EERE also states that “Currently, only China appears able to challenge the U.S. lead, as the rapidly growing country added 6,300 MW of wind turbines in 2008 to more than double its installed wind power capacity for the fourth year in a row. China’s total wind power capacity is only 12,210 MW—less than half of the U.S. wind capacity—but if the country continues to accelerate in its pursuit of wind power, it could quickly catch up to the U.S. total.”

The big unknown is the global economic crisis. Worldwide wind power capacity experienced exponential growth since the 1990s. Financing for new projects and new orders for wind turbines and components slowed to a trickle by year’s end. That’s where $100 billion can make a big impact.

In addition to clean energy, about $9 billion was earmarked in today’s compromise legislation for “shovel-ready” projects. I hope that includes pollution cleanups, new parks, and thousands of green jobs.

Wind Energy is finally getting the attention it deserves. July, 2008, was a good month for wind, as billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens outlined his plan at http://www.pickensplan.com/ to help the US become more energy independent. Wind turbines in the mid-West “wind belt” could eventually generate 20 percent or more of our electricity supply.