Industry Statistics


The complete version of the AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report 2012  and AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2012 Market Report are both now available. AWEA members can access the complete reports by logging into the Member Center.

The fourth quarter of 2012 saw 8,385 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity installed, bringing total 2012 installations to 13,131 MW. The U.S. wind industry now totals 60,007 MW of cumulative wind capacity (and more than 45,100 turbines) through the end of December 2012.  During 2012, wind energy became the number one source of new U.S. electricity generating capacity for the first time, providing some 42% of all new generating capacity.

Today, the U.S. wind industry represents not only a large market for wind power capacity installations, but also a growing market for American manufacturing. Over 550 manufacturing facilities across 44 states make components for wind turbines.

The most recent U.S. wind industry statistics can be found below and are available through the:

AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Reports
AWEA Quarterly Reports
AWEA U.S. State Fact Sheets
AWEA Wind Energy Fact Sheets

U.S. Wind Industry Fast Facts




Total U.S. Utility-Scale Wind Power Capacity, Through 4th Quarter of 2012:


60,007 MW


U.S. Wind Power Capacity, Installed in 2011:


6,819 MW


U.S. Wind Power Capacity, Installed in 2012:


13,131 MW


U.S. Wind Power Capacity Under Construction as of 4th Quarter of 2012:


43 MW

U.S. Wind Power Capacity, Installed in Previous Years (including small-wind):



2010:
2009:
2008:
2007:

5,214 MW
10,000 MW
8,361 MW
5,249 MW


Number of States with Utility-Scale Wind Installations, 2012:


39 + Puerto Rico


Number of States with over 1,000 MW of Wind Installations, 2012:


15


U.S. Wind Resource Potential, Onshore (Source: NREL):


10,400,000 MW


U.S. Wind Resource Potential, Offshore (Source: NREL):


4,150,000 MW

Top 5 States with Wind Power Capacity Installed, through Q4 2012:

1. Texas
2. California
3. Iowa
4. Illinois
5. Oregon

12,214 MW
  5,544 MW
5,133 MW
3,568 MW
3,153 MW


Last updated: 4.09.2013



Are you an AWEA Member? AWEA members can access additional information by logging on through the Member Center.

If you would like to receive more information about U.S. wind industry statistics, please send an e-mail to stats@awea.org.

For statistics on the global market for wind energy, please refer to the Global Wind Energy Council web site at www.gwec.net.