Wind Energy Grows by Record 8,300 MW in 2008
January 27, 2009
BUSINESS WIRE
The U.S. wind energy industry shattered all previous records in
2008 by installing 8,358 megawatts (MW) of new generating capacity (enough
to serve over 2 million homes), the American Wind Energy Association
(AWEA) said today, even as it warned of an uncertain outlook for 2009 due to
the continuing financial crisis.
The massive growth in 2008 swelled the nation's total wind power
generating capacity by 50% and channeled an investment of some $17
billion into the economy, positioning wind power as one of the leading
sources of new power generation in the country today along with
natural gas, AWEA added. At year's end, however, financing for new
projects and orders for turbine components slowed to a trickle and
layoffs began to hit the wind turbine manufacturing sector.
"Our numbers are both exciting and sobering," said AWEA CEO
Denise Bode. "The U.S. wind energy industry's performance in 2008
confirms that wind is an economic and job creation dynamo, ready to
deliver on the President's call to double renewable energy production
in three years. At the same time, it is clear that the economic and
financial downturn have begun to take a serious toll on new wind
development. We are already seeing layoffs in the area where wind's
promise is greatest for our
economy: the wind power manufacturing sector. Quick action in the stimulus bill is
vital to restore the industry's momentum and create jobs as we help
make our country more secure and leave a more stable climate for our
children."
The new wind projects completed in 2008 account for about 42% of
the entire new power-producing capacity added nationally last year,
according to initial estimates, and will avoid nearly 44 million tons
of carbon emissions, the equivalent of taking over 7 million cars off
of the road.
The amount that the industry brought online in the 4th quarter
alone - 4112 MW - exceeds annual additions for every year except 2007. In all,
wind energy generating capacity in the U.S. now stands at 25,170 MW,
producing enough electricity to power the equivalent of close to 7
million households and strengthening our national energy supply with a
clean, inexhaustible, homegrown source of energy.
Iowa, with 2,790 MW installed, surpassed California (2,517MW) in
wind power generating capacity. The top five states in terms of
capacity installed are now:
-Texas, with 7116 MW
-Iowa, with 2790 MW
-California, with 2517 MW
-Minnesota, with 1752 MW
-Washington, with 1375 MW
Oregon moved into the club of states with more than 1,000MW
installed, which now counts seven states: Texas, Iowa, California,
Minnesota, Washington, Colorado, and Oregon.
About 85,000 people are employed in the wind industry today, up
from 50,000 a year ago, and hold jobs in areas as varied as turbine
component manufacturing, construction and installation of wind
turbines, wind turbine operations and maintenance, legal and marketing
services, and more.
About 8,000 of these jobs are construction jobs, and a significant number of
those will be lost in 2009 if financing for the pipeline of new
projects is not quickly restored.
Wind power's recent growth has also accelerated job creation in
manufacturing, where the share of domestically manufactured wind
turbine components has grown from under 30% in 2005 to about 50% in
2008. Wind turbine and turbine component manufacturers announced,
added or expanded 70 new facilities in the past two years, including
over 55 in 2008 alone. Those new manufacturing facilities created
13,000 new direct jobs in 2008.
However, because of the recent slowdown in orders, wind turbine and
turbine component manufacturers in different parts of the country are
beginning to announce layoffs.
"The hope is that provisions such as those included in the House
stimulus bill to restore the effectiveness of the tax incentives for
renewable energy will quickly become law and provide the capital
needed to continue to build projects," said Bode. "Because wind
projects can be built quickly, positive legislation from Congress will
have immediate and visible effects. Looking forward, it will also be
important for the new Administration and Congress to put in place
long-term, supportive renewable energy policies to make the new clean
energy economy a reality."
State-by-state installation information is available at
www.awea.org/projects. For more on the policies that are needed see
www.newwindagenda.org. For media/satellite availability on Wednesday,
January 28, please contact Shawna Seldon, The Rosen Group, (212)
255-7541 or (cell) (917) 971-7852.
About the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA):
AWEA is the national trade association of America's wind
industry, with more than 1,800 member companies, including global
leaders in wind power and energy development, wind turbine
manufacturing, component and service suppliers, and the world's
largest wind power trade show.
AWEA is the voice of wind energy in the U.S., promoting renewable energy to
power a cleaner, stronger America. More information on wind energy is
available at the AWEA Web site: www.awea.org.
SOURCE: AWEA
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BUSINESS WIRE
The U.S. wind energy industry shattered all previous records in
2008 by installing 8,358 megawatts (MW) of new generating capacity (enough
to serve over 2 million homes), the American Wind Energy Association
(AWEA) said today, even as it warned of an uncertain outlook for 2009 due to
the continuing financial crisis.
The massive growth in 2008 swelled the nation's total wind power
generating capacity by 50% and channeled an investment of some $17
billion into the economy, positioning wind power as one of the leading
sources of new power generation in the country today along with
natural gas, AWEA added. At year's end, however, financing for new
projects and orders for turbine components slowed to a trickle and
layoffs began to hit the wind turbine manufacturing sector.
"Our numbers are both exciting and sobering," said AWEA CEO
Denise Bode. "The U.S. wind energy industry's performance in 2008
confirms that wind is an economic and job creation dynamo, ready to
deliver on the President's call to double renewable energy production
in three years. At the same time, it is clear that the economic and
financial downturn have begun to take a serious toll on new wind
development. We are already seeing layoffs in the area where wind's
promise is greatest for our
economy: the wind power manufacturing sector. Quick action in the stimulus bill is
vital to restore the industry's momentum and create jobs as we help
make our country more secure and leave a more stable climate for our
children."
The new wind projects completed in 2008 account for about 42% of
the entire new power-producing capacity added nationally last year,
according to initial estimates, and will avoid nearly 44 million tons
of carbon emissions, the equivalent of taking over 7 million cars off
of the road.
The amount that the industry brought online in the 4th quarter
alone - 4112 MW - exceeds annual additions for every year except 2007. In all,
wind energy generating capacity in the U.S. now stands at 25,170 MW,
producing enough electricity to power the equivalent of close to 7
million households and strengthening our national energy supply with a
clean, inexhaustible, homegrown source of energy.
Iowa, with 2,790 MW installed, surpassed California (2,517MW) in
wind power generating capacity. The top five states in terms of
capacity installed are now:
-Texas, with 7116 MW
-Iowa, with 2790 MW
-California, with 2517 MW
-Minnesota, with 1752 MW
-Washington, with 1375 MW
Oregon moved into the club of states with more than 1,000MW
installed, which now counts seven states: Texas, Iowa, California,
Minnesota, Washington, Colorado, and Oregon.
About 85,000 people are employed in the wind industry today, up
from 50,000 a year ago, and hold jobs in areas as varied as turbine
component manufacturing, construction and installation of wind
turbines, wind turbine operations and maintenance, legal and marketing
services, and more.
About 8,000 of these jobs are construction jobs, and a significant number of
those will be lost in 2009 if financing for the pipeline of new
projects is not quickly restored.
Wind power's recent growth has also accelerated job creation in
manufacturing, where the share of domestically manufactured wind
turbine components has grown from under 30% in 2005 to about 50% in
2008. Wind turbine and turbine component manufacturers announced,
added or expanded 70 new facilities in the past two years, including
over 55 in 2008 alone. Those new manufacturing facilities created
13,000 new direct jobs in 2008.
However, because of the recent slowdown in orders, wind turbine and
turbine component manufacturers in different parts of the country are
beginning to announce layoffs.
"The hope is that provisions such as those included in the House
stimulus bill to restore the effectiveness of the tax incentives for
renewable energy will quickly become law and provide the capital
needed to continue to build projects," said Bode. "Because wind
projects can be built quickly, positive legislation from Congress will
have immediate and visible effects. Looking forward, it will also be
important for the new Administration and Congress to put in place
long-term, supportive renewable energy policies to make the new clean
energy economy a reality."
State-by-state installation information is available at
www.awea.org/projects. For more on the policies that are needed see
www.newwindagenda.org. For media/satellite availability on Wednesday,
January 28, please contact Shawna Seldon, The Rosen Group, (212)
255-7541 or (cell) (917) 971-7852.
About the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA):
AWEA is the national trade association of America's wind
industry, with more than 1,800 member companies, including global
leaders in wind power and energy development, wind turbine
manufacturing, component and service suppliers, and the world's
largest wind power trade show.
AWEA is the voice of wind energy in the U.S., promoting renewable energy to
power a cleaner, stronger America. More information on wind energy is
available at the AWEA Web site: www.awea.org.
SOURCE: AWEA
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