US wind power grew 8 percent in 2018, AWEA reports

The American Energy Association (AWEA) recently released its U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report, Year Ending 2018, which found that the U.S. wind power industry saw 8 percent capacity growth last year.

The United States has approximately 96,433 megawatts (MW) of cumulative installed wind capacity. Wind projects installed in 2018 represent more than $12 billion in new private investment.

The report also notes that U.S. wind power supports 114,000 American jobs, over 500 domestic factories and more than $1 billion a year in revenue for states and communities that host wind farms.

“Wind power’s record-breaking year shows our industry is leading the way to a cleaner, stronger 21st Century U.S. economy,” Tom Kiernan, CEO of AWEA, said. “America’s least expensive source of new electricity generation is also clean and inexhaustible, which gives our economy an edge in the global marketplace. We’re proud to report the wind industry employs a record number of Americans, supports a robust domestic manufacturing sector with over 500 factories, and contributes over a billion dollars a year to states and rural communities.”

AWEA leaders announced the new report at the Greater Houston Partnership, the chamber of commerce for the city.

Texas ranked first for installed wind power capacity and wind jobs last year. The state has approximately 25,000 megawatts (MW) installed, about a quarter of all U.S. wind power capacity. Approximately 7,000 MW of additional wind projects were under construction or in advanced development in Texas at the end of 2018.