The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently published a report showing how the United States can unlock the vast potential for wind energy deployment in all 50 states with the development of next-generation wind turbine technologies. Enabling Wind Power Nationwide builds upon the recently released Wind Vision Report, which quantifies the economic, social, and environmental benefits of a robust wind energy future.

The new report highlights the potential for technical advancements to unlock wind resources in regions with limited wind deployment today, such as the Southeast. These new regions represent an additional 700,000 square miles—or about one-fifth of the United States—bringing the total area of technical wind potential to 1.8 million square miles.

Technological advancements, such as taller wind turbine towers of 110 and 140 meters and larger rotors—currently under development by DOE and its private sector partners—can more efficiently capture the stronger and more consistent wind resources typically found at greater heights above ground level, compared with the average 80-meter wind turbine towers installed in 39 states today.

Continuing this technology development is essential to expanding wind power to every state across the nation. By increasing the amount of land suited to commercial wind development, wind power can also provide local economic development opportunities, including jobs for installers, engineers, and other support personnel, in new communities and whole regions with currently untapped resources.

Learn about DOE’s Wind Program research and development.