Wind Power Growth Threatened by Supply Constraints, Says AWEA

August 15, 2007

A photo of a line of at least seven wind turbines stretching into the distance, with the wind turbine blades blurred by their motion.

The demand for wind turbines is exceeding the supply in the United States.
Credit: Warren Gretz

The U.S. wind power industry is on track for installing well over 3,000 megawatts (MW) of wind turbines this year, but future growth may be hampered by a limited supply of turbines, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). AWEA's second-quarter market report notes that wind turbines with the capacity to produce 1,059 MW of power were installed in the first half of 2007, including 603 MW in Texas alone. Despite the opening of a new wind blade manufacturing plant in Arkansas, and plans to open manufacturing plants for towers, blades, and turbines in five other states, AWEA warns that the demand is exceeding the supply. See the AWEA press release.

At least one U.S. wind power manufacturer is supporting the industry by purchasing the output from its own product. DMI Industries, a manufacturer of wind towers, is purchasing renewable energy credits from wind power facilities to offset all the electricity used in its North Dakota plant. While supporting the wind industry, the purchase also effectively reduces the greenhouse gases generated in creating new wind power facilities that use DMI's towers. In other words, the purchase helps to further lower the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of new wind power facilities. See the DMI press release.