Industry Statistics


The complete version of the AWEA First Quarter 2012 Market Report and AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report Year Ending 2011 are now available. AWEA members can find more information about accessing the complete reports by logging into the Member Center. Non-members can purchase all wind industry market reports here.

The first quarter of 2012 saw 1,695 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity installed. The U.S. wind industry now totals 48,611 MW of cumulative wind capacity through the end of the first quarter of 2012. There are over 8,900 MW currently under construction involving nearly 100 separate projects spanning 31 states plus Puerto Rico. The U.S. wind industry has added over 35% of all new generating capacity over the past 5 years, second only to natural gas, and more than nuclear and coal combined. Today, U.S. wind power capacity represents more than 20% of the world's installed wind power.

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 470 manufacturing facilities across the U.S. make components for wind turbines, and dedicated wind facilities that manufacture major components such as towers, blades and assembled nacelles can be found in every region.

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 1st Quarter of 2012:


48,611 MW


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


6,816 MW


U.S. Wind Power Capacity, Installed in 1st Quarter of 2012:


1,695 MW


U.S. Wind Power Capacity Under Construction as of 1st Quarter of 2012:


8,916 MW

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



2010:
2009:
2008:
2007:

5,216 MW
10,010 MW
8,366 MW
5,258 MW


Number of States with Utility-Scale Wind Installations, 2011:


38


Number of States with over 1,000 MW of Wind Installations, 2011:


14


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 Q1 2012:

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

10,648 MW
4,419 MW
4,287 MW
2,852 MW
2,718 MW


Last updated: 5.1.2012



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.