The AWEA said this year's new wind power installation will be about the same as in 2007. Growing fast has its pains, and one is that growth in 2008 will be limited by a shortage of wind turbines. The AWEA said wind turbines are sold out for the year, a condition it says will ease as more manufacturers enter the burgeoning market.
In 2006, wind power grew by 20 per cent when about $4 billion was spent in the industry. In 2007 around $9 billion was invested.
For the first time, wind power accounts for more than 1 percent of overall U.S. electricity production and can power about 4.5 million homes in total.
In the same year that President Bush announced record subsidies for ethanol production Texas lengthened its lead over California among states with the most installed wind power, followed by Minnesota, Iowa and Washington.
