Wind Energy Mission, Vision, and Goals
The program's mission is to lead the nation's efforts to improve wind energy technology through public/private partnerships that enhance domestic economic benefit from wind power development and coordinate with stakeholders on activities that address barriers to wind energy use.
Vision
The Presidential Advanced Energy Initiative (AEI) presents a vision for the future development of wind energy by stating that "areas with good wind resources have the potential to supply up to 20% of the electricity consumption of the United States." The AEI and the National Energy Plan of 2001 and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 provide the foundation of a national strategy to change the way we power our homes, offices, and vehicles, partially by expanding the generation of clean energy from wind.
Goals
The program has defined goals for its technology viability and technology application activities that will position wind power as an attractive advanced technology option for the twenty-first century. These goals are:
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By 2010, facilitate the installation of at least 100 megawatts of wind energy in 30 states.
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By 2012, reduce the cost of electricity from large wind systems in Class 4 winds to 3.6 cents per kilowatt-hour for land-based systems.
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By 2012, complete program activities addressing electric power market rules, interconnection impacts, operating strategies, and system planning needed for wind energy to compete without disadvantage to serve the Nation's energy needs.
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By 2014, reduce the cost of electricity from large wind systems in Class 6 winds to 7 cents/kWh for shallow water (depths up to 30 meters) offshore systems (from a baseline of 9.5 cents/kWh in 2005).
By 2015, expand the number of distributed wind turbines deployed in the U.S. market fivefold from a 2007 baseline.
More detailed information about how the program will achieve these goals is presented in Program Areas.
Program Documents
The following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.
Wind Power Today and Tomorrow provides an overview of DOE's accomplishments and activities in 2006. (PDF 3.2 MB).
Wind Energy Multiyear Program Plan for 2007-2012. (PDF 2.3 MB).