Denver Business Journal
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The wind power industry installed nearly 1,400 megawatts worth of turbines in the United States during the third quarter of 2008, and the year-end total is expected to be the fourth consecutive annual record for installations.
But work in 2009 is expected to slow due to the nation’s economic climate.
That’s according to the third-quarter report issued Wednesday from the American Wind Energy Association, based in Washington, D.C.
Still, the wind power manufacturing sector is growing in the United States — led by Danish company Vestas and its plans to expand its blade factor in Windsor as well as build new plants in Brighton and Pueblo. Vestas is spending more than $600 million and is expected to create about 2,500 jobs in the state.
In 2007, the industry installed 5,249 megawatts of power. It installed 1,389 megawatts in the third quarter of 2008. The year-end total is expected to be about 7,500 megawatts, enough electricity to power about 2.2 million homes, the association said.
AWEA’s report said eight new manufacturing facilities opened this year for turbine components. Nine existing plants are expanding, and it’s been announced that 19 new plants will be built. With the new plants, AWEA said the share of “Made in the U.S.A” parts in wind turbines has risen from about 30 percent in 2005 to 50 percent today.
The new facilities will create an estimated 9,000 jobs, the association said.
Because of the late extension of the wind production tax credit by one year, part of the federal bailout package, and the evolving financial crisis, new construction starts for wind farms are expected to slow in 2009, the association said.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The wind power industry installed nearly 1,400 megawatts worth of turbines in the United States during the third quarter of 2008, and the year-end total is expected to be the fourth consecutive annual record for installations.
But work in 2009 is expected to slow due to the nation’s economic climate.
That’s according to the third-quarter report issued Wednesday from the American Wind Energy Association, based in Washington, D.C.
Still, the wind power manufacturing sector is growing in the United States — led by Danish company Vestas and its plans to expand its blade factor in Windsor as well as build new plants in Brighton and Pueblo. Vestas is spending more than $600 million and is expected to create about 2,500 jobs in the state.
In 2007, the industry installed 5,249 megawatts of power. It installed 1,389 megawatts in the third quarter of 2008. The year-end total is expected to be about 7,500 megawatts, enough electricity to power about 2.2 million homes, the association said.
AWEA’s report said eight new manufacturing facilities opened this year for turbine components. Nine existing plants are expanding, and it’s been announced that 19 new plants will be built. With the new plants, AWEA said the share of “Made in the U.S.A” parts in wind turbines has risen from about 30 percent in 2005 to 50 percent today.
The new facilities will create an estimated 9,000 jobs, the association said.
Because of the late extension of the wind production tax credit by one year, part of the federal bailout package, and the evolving financial crisis, new construction starts for wind farms are expected to slow in 2009, the association said.
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