Wind supplies more than 5 percent of US electricity in 2016

Wind generated more than 5.5 percent of the electricity used in the United States in 2016, along with five states now getting more than 20 percent of their energy from wind, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

More than $13.8 billion was invested in new turbines this past year, according to the American Wind
Energy Association (AWEA). The United States now operates 52,000 turbines, 99 percent of which are located in rural areas resulting in a boost to investment in rural economies.

“Wind is now cheaply and reliably supplying more than 20 percent of the electricity in five states and is a testament to American leadership and innovation,” AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan said. “For these states, and across America, wind is welcome because it means jobs, investment, and a better tomorrow for rural communities.”

Wind turbines in 40 states generated a record-breaking 226 million megawatt-hours in 2016, according to EIA data.

Iowa’s share of its electricity from wind, the largest of any U.S. state, grew from 31.5 percent to 36.6 percent in 2016. Oklahoma wind’s share of total electricity generation grew from 18.4 percent in 2015 to 25.1 percent in 2016. Kansas wind’s share increased from 24.1 percent to 29.6 percent. South Dakota became the second state to reach over 30 percent wind energy generation, with North Dakota rising to 21.5 percent wind.

According to the EIA, an additional 14 states generated more than 10 percent of the electricity from wind, and 20 states produced more than 5 percent.