American wind power just achieved its second strongest quarter ever for newly installed energy generating capacity according to the Fourth Quarter 2016 U.S. Wind Industry Market Report released by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Wind surpassed hydropower dams to become the largest source of renewable electric capacity in the U.S., and the fourth largest overall.
At the close of 2016, the American wind fleet totaled 82,183 MW and there are now more than 52,000 individual wind turbines installed in 41 states plus Guam and Puerto Rico. The wind industry employs 25,000 Americans at over 500 factories in 43 states. Over 100,000 American workers now manufacture, construct, and maintain the U.S. wind turbine fleet according to the U.S. Department of Energy. New growth in the fourth quarter of 2016, announced for the first time today, includes 6,478 MW, the second strongest quarter for U.S. wind power installations on record. For the year, wind developers added 8,203 MW of wind power capacity representing more than US$ 13.8 billion in new investment.
