THERE’S WAY WAY MORE WIND THAN THEY THOUGHT

U.S. Wind Even Larger Than Previously Estimated: Government Assessment
February 18, 2010 (American Wind Energy Association)

"…[A] new assessment from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory [shows] that U.S. wind resources are larger than previously estimated…

"Highlights of [New Wind Energy Resource Potential Estimates for the United States] include…[1] Onshore U.S. wind resources could generate nearly 37,000,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) annually, more than nine times current total U.S. electricity consumption…[2] the potential capacity of America’s onshore wind resource is over 10,000 gigawatts (GW)…[3] The U.S. is barely tapping this vast resource: current wind installed capacity is 35 GW in the U.S. and 158 GW world-wide."

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Denise Bode, CEO, AWEA:] "This new analysis confirms that America is blessed with vast wind resources that can energize our economy, create jobs, and avoid carbon for years to come---if we give ourselves the policy tools to do so, including a strong national Renewable Electricity Standard with aggressive, binding near- and long-term targets...The wind resource is there, vast and inexhaustible, waiting for us. Meanwhile, the economy can’t wait, job creation can’t wait, and America can’t wait. We need Congress to act now and pass a comprehensive climate and energy bill that includes a strong national Renewable Electricity Standard."

"These larger estimates are due to improved wind turbine technology, as today’s taller turbines tap better winds at higher elevations (this study measured winds at 80 meters), and to more refined wind measurements. The previous national government survey of U.S. wind resources, carried out by the Pacific Northwest Laboratory, estimated U.S. wind potential at 10,777,000 GWh."

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"Within this bigger 'pie' of wind resources, the top 10 windiest states are…[1] Texas…[2] Kansas…[3] Montana…[4] Nebraska…[5] South Dakota…[6] North Dakota…[7] Iowa…[8] Wyoming…[9] Oklahoma…[10] New Mexico…Indiana, Ohio and Oregon move into the top 20 windiest states list for the first time…In a single year, the U.S. wind resource potential could produce 364.9 quadrillion btus, the energy equivalent of all proven oil and natural gas reserves in the U.S…A renewable resource, wind will not be depleted and will continue to provide energy year after year…

"In 2009, the U.S. wind industry added nearly 10,000 megawatts (MW) of new capacity, enough to power the equivalent of 2.4 million homes or generate as much electricity as three large nuclear power plants. The wind turbine fleet in place at year’s end—over 35,000 MW—is enough to power the equivalent of some 9.7 million homes, and that number is increasing at the rate of a million homes every five months."