The importance of — and potential for — wind energy has become more and more apparent in the last several decades. In fact, 2016 was a record year for renewable wind energy in the United States (just check stat number one below!).
That’s why we’ve put together this list of wind energy facts. These stats show just how powerful wind energy is—and why it will be a key player in the energy market for years to come.
Source: Energy Acuity Renewables Platform
1. In 2016, the U.S. installed 8,203 MW of wind, and the U.S. wind industry employed 101,738 workers.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
2. A single wind turbine can power 500 homes.
Source: Wind Energy Foundation
3. Texas ranks first in the U.S. for installed wind capacity, with a capacity of 18,531 MW and an under construction wind capacity of 5,040 MW. This is the equivalent of powering 4.1 million homes.
Source: Power Of Wind
4. The fastest-growing job in America is “wind turbine technician,” according to the Department of Labor.
Source: AWEA
5. The top 5 states for installed wind power capacity are Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma, California, and Kansas.
Source: Department of Energy
6. Unlike nearly every other form of utility-scale energy, wind power uses virtually no water.
Source: Wind Energy Foundation
7. Wind turbines and windmills aren’t the same things. Windmills generate mechanical energy, but they do not generate electricity. However, modern wind turbines harness the wind’s kinetic energy and convert it into electricity.
Source: AWEA
8. Wind energy generates enough electricity across the U.S. to power 24 million homes.
Source: Power Of Wind
9. The cost of wind has dropped by 66% over the last seven years thanks to improvements in technology and U.S.-based manufacturing.
Source: Into The Wind Blog
10. U.S. wind power substitutes the carbon pollution of over 28 million cars for wind energy.
Source: AWEA
11. The Alta Wind Energy Center in California is the largest operational wind farm in the U.S. It has a wind capacity of 1548 MW and is the second largest wind farm in the world.
Source: California Energy Commission
12. The Gansu Wind Farm in China is the largest operational wind farm in the world, with a capacity of 6,000 MW.
Source: Forbes
Want to know more wind energy facts?
The Energy Acuity Renewables Database has tons of useful information on wind projects that are either currently operating or under construction, and it can help you find projects before your competition. Check it out today!
Source: Energy Acuity Renewables Platform
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