The expansion of the US wind sector slowed in the second quarter of 2009, jeopardising the industry’s record pace of growth. The US wind energy industry installed 1,210MW of power generating capacity in the second quarter, compared with 1,300MW in the same period last year, raising total US capacity to 29,440MW, according to the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) second quarter market report. So far in 2009, the industry has added 4,000MW of capacity, well above the 2,900MW installed in the first half of 2008 on the way toward a record 8,358MW of new capacity last year. The strong first quarter number of 2,800MW of new capacity – despite the effects of the financial crisis – was a result of projects in the pipeline, and with financing in place, coming into operation.

But AWEA is seeing a reduction in the number of orders and a lower level of activity in manufacturing of wind turbines and their components, a “troubling” fact because the industry was previously on track for much larger growth and the global wind power industry is continuing to expand. “The numbers are in, and while they show the industry has been swimming upstream … the fact is that we could be delivering so much more,” said AWEA CEO Denise Bode.

The federal renewable electricity standard (RES) being debated in Congress could provide a boost, but current proposals do not feature the strong early targets necessary to sustain present development and encourage further growth, AWEA officials said. A House of Representatives bill would require utilities to source 6% of their power from renewables in 2012 while the Senate starts with a 3% requirement that year. “We are not blind to political realities ... but we would like the RES to be the strongest possible,” said Kathy Belyeu, manager, industry information services for AWEA.

Missouri experienced the fastest growth in the second quarter, expanding wind power installations by 90%, or 146MW. Pennsylvania ranked second with a 28% growth rate, or 102MW, while South Dakota ranked third, expanding by 21% or 50MW. Texas has the most wind capacity in the US at 8,361MW, followed by Iowa at 3,043MW and California at 2,787MW.

(Environmental Finance Online News, 30/07/2009)