TECH BUZZ /] TRENDING ‘GRAPH I eas, the esting statin instal wind capac is alo leacng in pots unde constuction, ‘0 MH. ater the completion fnew transmission Lig inthe panhandle andthe western part ofthe state U.S. WIND POWER CAPACITY INSTALLATIONS BY STATE SOURCE: Ann Ee Asatin BY THE NUMBERS: WIND ENERGY SET TO SOAR Record-setting number of wind farms were being built in 2013. jhe year 2013 saw construction start on an unprecedented number of wind farms thanks to the extension of a federal-gov- ernment production tax credit that had been set to expire at the end of 2012, according to an industry association report. Itoffered a 2.3-cent credit for each kilowatt-hour of electricity generated by renewable energy resources, including wind, ‘According to the American Wind Energy Association, which regularly tracks the market, installed U.S. wind capacity reached 61,108 mega- watts at the end of 2013, with the addition of 1,084 MW within the year itself Construction, as opposed to completions, presented a difer- ent picture. At the ond of 2013, wind energy projects set to total 12,300 MW in capacity were ac- tively under construction across, 20 states, including 10,900 MW that started construction dur- ing the fourth quarter of 2013, There wiere more than 90 proj- ects actively under construction in 2013, the most wind projects ever being built at a single time, i Pa A Ea i Lg Mo 459 according tothe AWEA U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2013 Market Report At the end of 2012, the U.S had 60,007 MW of wind energy capacity, up considerably from 46,930 MW for 2011. Total US. nameplate capacity in 2001, the first year for which the report was published, was 4,147 MW. Record installation, or ‘completion, of 13,133 MW in wind-power capacity marked the year 2012. About 92 percent less capacity came on line in 2013, The report attributed the decline tothe late extension of > 10,000 Pat ROR PRES Le the production tax credit and ‘of an investment tax credit that also aided wind energy pro- ducers, The Internal Revenue Service extended those credits in Apri 2013, Projects are currently being built in more than 20 states, ‘and Texas leads with 7,000 MW under construction, awa, with 1,050 MW under construc- tion, isa distant second. Texas is adding wind capacity after the 2013 completion of the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone transmission lines in the panhandle and the western part ofthe state, Other top states for 2013 building activity include Kan- 0s, with 722 MW, and North Dakota, with 632 MW under construction,ecMMCALENERNS | Ha 20% | 2 U.S. WIND POWER CAPACITY GROWTH SOURCE Anan i ey Aston apo 8.08 60 GRAPH 2 Capacity of wind poner intheUS as grown fom 4,167 - 50 ia 2010 mae than 80.00 sn vas blamed fora smal gain in soa Picnianed {are increments in 208, 20 sme ago 0583 10 si aa sr OP eae RE PT U.S. WIND POWER CAPACITY UNDER CONSTRUCTION SWURCE: Anica id ey Asc (© vew-ovoerconsrrucrion MM ALLUNoeRconsTRUCTION conPuereDcapaciry GRAPH 3 As 2013 ended, a recor of 12300 MN inwind capacity was under constuction cross 20 states, The previo high as 1,300 MN under ‘onstruction dung th second quarter a 202. rey TORU) es The cost of wind energy ell tility signed a record number _long-termwind-power purchase 4.13 percent al the electricity by 43 percent over the past four of long-term contracts in 2013, agreements to run Texas data _in United States in 2013. years thanks to technological according to the report. centers, according to the AWEA. According to the US. Energy advancements and to a stable At least 60 wind-power pur- The AWEA reported separately Information Administration, 30, US. wind policy. Utility compa chase agreements were signed that total generation from wind percent of all new generating nies looking to take advantage or announced in 2013, totaling power ast year topped & percent capacity for the past five years of those low prices as well as to nearly 8,000 MW, with 5,200 MW of the U.S. power grid for the has been delivered by wind, ME diversity their portfolios andto yet to start construction. Both first time. According to the asso. hedge against future fuel vola- Google and Microsoftsigned ciation, wind sources generated