Windmills generate only a tiny fraction of America’s electricity, but in the past five years the industry has grown at a rate that would make Don Quixote faint.
The American Wind Energy Association, an industry lobbying group, announced this week that California leads the nation in producing wind energy. Texas is right on their heels at number two.
The association reported that energy produced by wind facilities increased by 35 percent last year. Overall, 30 states now produce 9,149 megawatts from wind power, according to the association.
The association’s 2005 ranking of the top five wind-power states, along with the amount of electricity generated, is as follows:
1) California, 2,150 MW
2) Texas, 1,995 MW
3) Iowa, 836 MW
4) Minnesota, 744 MW
5) Oklahoma, 475 MW
While wind power still accounts for less than 1 percent of the 970,000 megawatts generated in the United States at peak periods, the current rate of growth suggests a bright, breezy future for the industry.
