A report from the U.S. Department of Energy that was prepared by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory titled "2009 Wind Technologies Market Report." highlights the latest statistics in U.S. wind power. The report gives in depth analysis of both gains and loses in the wind power industry from 2008 to 2010 and beyond. Wind power additions in the United States set a new record in 2009, with 10 gigawatts of new capacity installed, representing a $21 billion investment. On the loses side the report covers rising project costs up 9% over 2008 predictions and estimates a slowdown in wind production installations in 2010 of 20 to 45 percent to about 5,500 - 8,000 MW compared to the nearly 10,000 MW installed in 2009. Below is a rundown of the gains and loses that were covered in the August 4th press release.

Wind Industry Gains
- While the U.S. was out paced by China in new wind power additions it shattered its own 2008 record.
- Within the U.S. new power plant installations occurred in 28 states with Texas leading the nation at 2,292 MW of wind capacity.
- Of the 10 wind turbine manufacturers with the largest share of the U.S. market in 2009, seven of them have one or more manufacturing facilities operating in the United States.
- Trade data show that the United States remained a large importer of wind turbine equipment in 2009, with $4.2 billion of imports, which is down from $5.4 billion in 2008, 4.6 billion in 2007, but higher then the $2.5 billion of equipment imported in 2006.

Wind Industry Loses
- Installed wind power project costs in 2009 averaged $2,120/kW, up by 9 percent over the 2008 figure.
- Conflicting policies and low wind resource year result in drop off wind project performance drop from 2008 to 2009. increasing amounts of wind power curtailment—particularly in Texas, where 17 percent of all potential wind energy generation was curtailed in 2009 because of transmission inadequacy.
- Although some of the cost pressures facing the industry in recent years have eased, 2009 was another year of rising average wind power prices. The average 2009 sales price from projects built in 2009 was roughly $61/MWh.
- Projections among industry analysts range from 5,500 MW to 8,000 MW of wind power capacity likely to be installed in the United States in 2010, a drop of 20 to 45 percent compared to the nearly 10,000 MW installed in 2009.

For further reading on the economics of wind power here is an interesting conversation on the politics and costs involved: U.S. wind energy popular, but lacks investment by Candace Lombardi

Source Article: New Study Sheds Light on U.S. Wind Power Market

Download the Full Report 2009 Wind Technologies Market Report