Quarterly U.S. Wind Energy Market Outlook

With the official extension of the wind energy production tax credit (PTC) through the end of 2007, AWEA's initial rough estimate is that 2,000 MW or more of new capacity will be installed per year in 2006 and 2007.

AWEA provided a sampling of some of the more notable projects to be completed by year's end (a complete listing is available at www.awea.org/projects).

Hopkins Ridge Wind Power Project, Columbia County, Washington
- 149.4 MW
- Developed by RES America & Puget Sound Energy
- Using 83 Vestas 1.8-MW turbines

Kumeyaay Wind Power Project, San Diego County, California
- 50-MW
- Largest wind project on Native American land in the U.S.
- Developed by Superior Renewable Energy
- Using 25 Gamesa 2-MW turbines

Trimont Area Wind Farm, Martin & Jackson Counties, Minnesota
- 100.5 MW
- Largest project with local farmer ownership in the U.S.
- Under construction, developed by PPM Energy
- Using 67 GE Energy 1.5-MW turbines

Weatherford Wind Energy Center, near Weatherford, Oklahoma
- 106.5 MW completed, 40.5 MW to be added by the end of the year
- Developed by FPL Energy
- 98 GE Energy 1.5-MW turbines

Texas - 703.1 MW of new wind power capacity to be added in 2005
- Sweetwater phase II, near Sweetwater, 128-MW project developed by DKRW, Babcock & Brown, and Catamount Energy Corp., 61 GE Energy 1.5-MW turbines
- Community-owned projects, a total of 30 MW being financed by John Deere, 24 Suzlon 1.25-MW turbines
- Callahan Divide Wind Energy Center in Taylor County, 114-MW project developed by FPL Energy, 76 GE Energy 1.5-MW turbines
- Cottonwood Creek, west of Abilene, 100.5-MW project developed by DKRW, Babcock & Brown, and Catamount Energy Corp., 67 GE Energy 1.5-MW turbines
- Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center in Taylor County, 210-MW project developed by FPL Energy, 140 GE Energy 1.5-MW turbines
- Buffalo Gap, near Abilene 120.6-MW project developed by AES, 67 Vestas 1.8-MW turbines

Maple Ridge wind farm in Lewis County, New York
- 198-MW
- Under construction, developed jointly PPM Energy & Zilkha Renewable Energy
- 120 Vestas 1.65-MW turbines

Ainsworth Wind Energy facility near Ainsworth, Nebraska
- 59.4 MW
- Developed by the Nebraska Public Power District and RES America
- 36 Vestas 1.65-MW turbines

San Juan Mesa Wind Power Project, near Elida, New Mexico
- 120 MW
- Developed by Padoma Wind Power
- 120 Mitsubishi 1-MW turbines

For the full text of the first quarter market outlook release, see the following link.