A total 17.3
megawatts worth of new small wind turbines--defined as wind turbines with
generation capacities of 100 kilowatts and less--was installed in 2009,
according to a report by the American Wind Energy Association released May
28.
"Consumers
are looking for affordable ways to improve their energy security and reduce
their personal carbon footprint," said Ron Stimmel, AWEA's Small Wind
Advocate. "Small wind technology can be an answer to that search. As
government policies have caught up with consumer interest, we’re seeing
people all across the U.S. take advantage of this abundant, domestic natural
resource and U.S. manufacturers have been able to meet this increasing
demand."
Increased private investment has enabled manufacturers to increase
production volumes and lower costs, particularly in the market's commercial
segment--systems that range between 21 and 100 kW.
Residential
small wind turbines--between 1 and 10 kW-- remains the largest market
segment was similarly driven by new investment and the subsequent
realization of greater economies of scale. Rising residential electricity
prices added to the impetus, according to the AWEA's report.
Like sectors
across the economy, AWEA members are looking to additional federal stimulus
and renewable energy stimulus and incentives to keep the ball rolling and
growing.
"The U.S.
wind industry is a growing bright spot in our domestic economy, and the
small wind sector is no exception," said AWEA CEO Denise Bode. "Strong
federal policies like the federal investment tax credit for small wind are
critical to future growth, just as adoption of a federal renewable
electricity standard (RES) is essential to growth in the utility-scale
market."
Small wind manufacturers
polled by the AWEA project a 30-fold increase in the U.S. small wind market
within as little as five years, that despite a global recession. "Much of
this estimated growth will be spurred by the new eight-year 30% federal
Investment Tax Credit (ITC) passed by Congress in October 2008 and
augmented in February 2009," the AWEA report states.
A total 17.3 megawatts worth of new small wind
turbines--defined as wind turbines with generation capacities of 100 kilowatts
and less--was installed in 2009, according to a report by the American Wind
Energy Association released May 28.
"
Consumers are looking for affordable ways to improve their
energy security and reduce their personal carbon footprint," said Ron Stimmel,
AWEA's Small Wind Advocate. "Small wind technology can be an answer to that
search. As government policies have caught up with consumer interest, we’re
seeing people all across the U.S. take advantage of this abundant, domestic
natural resource and U.S. manufacturers have been able to meet this increasing
demand."
Increased private investment has enabled manufacturers to
increase production volumes and lower costs, particularly in the market's
commercial segment--systems that range between 21 and 100 kW.
