Wind power industry breaks records in '09
The U.S. wind energy industry broke previous records by installing more than 10,000 megawatts (MW) of new generating capacity in 2009 (enough to serve over 2.4 million homes), but the industry still lags in manufacturing, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said Tuesday in its Q4 report.
Oregon saw the fourth largest jump in installed capacity, adding 691 MW in 2009. First was Texas with 2,292 MW added last year. Washington added 542 MW.
Before the Obama Administration's Recovery Act (ARRA), the industry anticipated that in 2009 wind power development might drop by as much as 50% from 2008 levels, with equivalent job losses. But stimulus incentives spurred the growth of construction, operations and maintenance, and management jobs, helping the industry to save and create jobs in those sectors and shine as a bright spot in the economy.
At the same time, officials at the AWEA say the continuing lack of a long-term policy and market signal allowed investment in the manufacturing sector to drop compared to 2008, with one-third fewer wind power manufacturing facilities online, announced and expanded in 2009. The result was net job losses in the manufacturing sector, which were compounded by low orders and high inventory.
Download the full report via the American Wind Energy Association.
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