AWEA reports 7,017 megawatts of wind capacity added in 2017

According to the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) recently released U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2017 Market Report, the United States added 7,017 megawatts (MW) of new wind power capacity in 2017, including 4,125 MW in the fourth quarter.

The report also found that 2017’s new wind capacity represents $11 billion in new private investment. 29 new wind farms in 16 states came online during the fourth quarter.

The pipeline of wind farms under construction or in advanced development equals 28,668 MW, AWEA noted, a 34 percent increase compared to the end of 2016.

“Wind delivered big results for the U.S. economy in 2017. Building new wind farms keeps American factory and construction workers busy, while breathing new life into farming and ranching communities,” AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan said. “This American success story will continue, with the wind project construction and advanced development pipeline four times greater than the amount installed in 2017. That means tens of billions in additional infrastructure investment is on its way to the United States of America.”

During the fourth quarter, Oklahoma surpassed Iowa as the state with second most installed wind capacity. Texas remains the leader in installed capacity and also led new wind capacity for the fourth quarter with 1,179 MW installed.

New power purchase agreements (PPAs) for wind energy totaled 710 MW during the fourth quarter and 5,496 MW for the year, the highest yearly PPA volume since 2013. While utilities signed approximately 60 percent of the contracted wind capacity in 2017, non-utility customers signed all of the new PPAs in the fourth quarter.

In total, the United States now has 89,077 MW of wind power installed across 41 states.