Increased wind power capacity, additional domestic wind turbine manufacturing, and declining offshore wind development costs supported the growth and expansion of the U.S. wind power market in 2016, as detailed in three market reports released by the Energy Department:
Wind Technologies Market Report
Supported by favorable tax policy and other drivers, cumulative U.S. wind power grew by 11% in 2016, representing 27% of all new capacity additions in 2016. Texas installed 2,611 megawatts of capacity—the most in the nation—and 9 states achieved wind penetration levels of 15% or higher.
Wind power capacity in the United States experienced strong growth in 2016, driven by improvements in the cost and performance of wind power technologies, yielding low power sales prices for utility, corporate, and other purchasers. Download the report here.
Distributed Wind Market Report
Wind turbines in distributed applications are found in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam to provide energy locally, either serving on-site electricity needs or a local grid. In 2016, the United States added 45.4 megawatts (MW) of new distributed wind capacity, representing 2,585 turbine units and $163 million in funding.
The DOE's annual Distributed Wind Market Report provides stakeholders with market statistics and analysis and insight into industry trends and characteristics. Download the report here.
Offshore Wind Technologies Market Report
The United States added its first commercial offshore wind farm in 2016, located off the coast of Block Island, Rhode Island. Decreasing global costs, marked by European auction strike prices, and stronger state policy commitments have led to increased confidence in the U.S. offshore wind market.
The 2016 Offshore Wind Technologies Market Report provides offshore wind policymakers, regulators, developers, researchers, engineers, financiers, and supply chain participants with quantitative information about the offshore wind market in the United States and worldwide. Download the report here.
5 Things You Should Know About Wind
Learn more about how wind is powering America.
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Texas, Oklahoma, and Iowa lead the nation as wind industry added more than 8,200 megawatt of capacity last year. -
Brush up on your knowledge of wind! Get the details on a few of the lesser-known wind energy facts. -
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Learn more about efforts to develop America's vast offshore wind resources. -
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Previous Reports
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Learn the basics of how wind turbines operate to produce clean power from an abundant, renewable resource—the wind.
Discover many of the remarkable advances that wind power has made over history.