Texas to Provide Two-Thirds of U.S. Wind Growth this Year

May 16, 2007

The installed wind power capacity in the United States is on track to increase by more than 3,000 megawatts (MW) this year, with two-thirds of that growth occurring in Texas, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). The trade group's first-quarter market report, released on May 10th, notes that new wind projects in Hawaii, Maine, Oklahoma, and Texas have already added more than 100 MW of new wind power thus far this year. More than 1,000 MW of new wind capacity are under construction in Texas, including a 240.8-MW addition to the Sweetwater wind plant, a 232.5-MW addition to the Buffalo Gap wind plant, and the 200-MW Lone Star wind plant. Each megawatt of wind capacity will produce enough electricity over the course of a year to equal the power needs of 250 to 300 average U.S. homes. See the AWEA press release.