«American wind energy is creating American jobs and affordable electricity all across the country,» said AWEA chief executive Denise Bode as the wind industry group releases the findings of their annual market report for 2011.
According to the American Wind Energy Association, wind power is currently one of the biggest sources of homegrown manufacturing jobs and driver of economic development in the United States.
«American wind energy is creating American jobs and affordable electricity all across the country,» said AWEA chief executive Denise Bode as the wind industry group releases the findings of their annual market report for 2011.
As of 2011, the top three states in terms of wind jobs in the U.S. were Iowa, Texas and Illinois, each employing 6,000 to 7,000 in the sector.
Ohio follows with 5,000 to 6,000, while Colorado, California and Michigan each has around 4,000 to 5,000. Pennsylvania, Florida and Oregon complete the top ten.
In 2011, the United States wind industry installed 6,816 megawatts of wind capacity, with another 8,300 under construction going into 2012, according to AWEA.
In the past five years, wind power has brought in as much as $20 billion annually in private investment and created nearly 500 new manufacturing facilities employing 75,000 workers, AWEA reported.
At least five states currently get more than 10 percent of their energy from wind.
South Dakota ranks No. 1 in terms of integrating wind power in their energy mix, with 22.3 percent of the state’s electricity coming from wind. Iowa follows with an 18.8 percent wind share, while North Dakota comes in third with 14.7 percent.
Including these top three, 13 states overall now have more than 5 percent of their power coming from wind. This includes Minnesota with 12.7 percent; Wyoming (10.1 percent); Colorado (9.2 percent); Kansas (8.3 percent); Oregon (8.2 percent); Idaho (8.2 percent); Oklahoma (7.1 percent); Texas (6.9 percent); New Mexico (5.4 percent); and Washington (5.3 percent).
Kansas currently has the most wind power projects under construction in 2012, with 1,189 MW, followed by Texas with 857 MW and California with 847 MW. Other states noted by the report were Oregon with 640 MW), Illinois (615 MW), Pennsylvania (520 MW), Iowa (470 MW), Oklahoma (393 MW), Michigan (348 MW) and Washington (331 MW). – EcoSeed Staff
