The American wind industry installed 5,001 megawatts (MW) during the fourth quarter of 2015, more installations than in all of 2014, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), Washington, D.C. Overall in 2015 the American wind industry installed 8,598 MW, the third largest amount ever installed in a year and a 77% increase over 2014.
AWEA highlighted the industry’s sustained growth in releasing its U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2015 Market Report. The strong market activity is expected to continue, with a bipartisan vote by Congress late last year for a multi-year extension of the Production Tax Credit (PTC), supplying the industry with much-needed policy certainty. As 2016 began, an additional 9,400 MW were under construction.
“The data released today show 2016 presents an extraordinary opportunity for American wind power,” said Tom Kiernan, AWEA’s CEO. “The time has never been better for states and utilities to lock in low-cost, stably-priced wind energy to achieve their Clean Power Plan carbon reductions. Wind energy is on track to supplying 20% of the country’s electricity by 2030.”
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