With all of the conflict over Cape Wind and the constant reduction in scope of T. Boone Pickens’ wind projects, it’s easy to feel discouraged, but here’s something to lift your spirits. Great news came from the American Wind Energy Association today.
During 2009, 10 GW of new wind power capacity was installed in the U.S., enough to power 2.4 million homes. The last quarter of 2009 saw the installation of 4 GW alone.
The association gives credit to the American Recovery and Investment Act’s $80 billion investment in clean energy for the largest installation for any year so far. You can read the association’s full report on the year in wind here (PDF).
With big wind projects on the horizon for the next few years, and if all goes as planned, that annual number should keep going up.
via Energy Boom