Source: Climate Change Business Journal, November 11, 2011.
The U.S. wind power industry continues to forge ahead at a faster pace in 2011 than in 2010, as 1,200 MW of new capacity came on line during the third quarter of this year, a significant increase over the 671 MW installed during the third quarter of 2010, according to the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) latest quarterly report. Although the U.S. wind industry continues to benefit from the production tax credit (PTC), wind power installations are still below the pace of 2008 and 2009, AWEA said. A total of 3,360 MW of capacity had been installed during 2011 through September, while another 8,400 MW of capacity is under construction. AWEA CEO Denise Bode said that policy uncertainty has made developers wary of scheduling projects for 2013. “We could lose all these consumer benefits and a brand new, growing manufacturing sector if Congress allows the production tax credit to expire,” said Bode.