I didn’t realize there was so much wind power capacity in MN and Iowa!
According to the 2008 AWEA wind ranking report, Minnesota has overtaken Iowa to become #3 in total MW of wind power capacity. MN is also #2 in the % of electricity generated by wind turbines – just behind Iowa. Both MN and Iowa tail California and Texas in total wind capacity.
To put the amount of electricity produced by wind farms in perspective, the current TOTAL US wind capacity is 16,800 MW and the capacity of the 24 proposed new nuclear units is 32,064 MW according to the US EIA. The current installed nuclear capacity is 99,209 MW, also according to the EIA (2004).
Q: Why is there so little wind power in the south?
A: It’s not very windy in the south. There is quite a bit of hydro though, esp. in AL and GA.
MN No. 2 in % wind capacity
Minnesota now No. 3 for wind power – TwinCities.com
Iowa No. 1 in % wind capacity
Radio Iowa: Iowa tops in wind energy production
Xcel No. 1 in wind capacity among utilities
Xcel leads U.S. in wind power : Energy : The Rocky Mountain News
Texas No. 1 in wind capacity & No. 1 in new capacity
Texas sails to top in wind energy – Fort Worth Business Press
AWEA press release
Wind Energy Leaders Remain Dominant in Latest U.S. Market Rankings
“Studies indicate that an expiration of the tax credit will place $19 billion in renewable energy investment and 116,000 American jobs at risk.”
If wind power is so dependent on tax credits to be competitive, is it really a cost effective power source?
Where’s the map showing the percentage of endangered birds killed as they migrate through wind farms each year?:)
I haven’t looked at this in detail, but it suggests that wind turbines might kill 33 thousand birds a year, while cats kill 1 billion birds a year.
http://www.progress.org/2003/energy23.htm
http://www.ifnotwind.org/myths/myth-wildlife.shtml (AWEA)
Also, wind isn’t the only energy source being subsidized
http://www.ifnotwind.org/pdf/Subsidy_updated_Jan_07.pdf