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Wind Energy Multiyear Program Plan For 2007–2012

Wind Energy Multiyear Program Plan For 2007–2012

Full Title:  Wind Energy Multiyear Program Plan For 2007–2012
Author(s):  U.S. Department of Energy
Publisher(s):  U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: August 1, 2007
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):

For more than 25 years, the Wind Energy Program, one element of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Wind and Hydropower Technology Program (WHTP) under the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), has been a central component of the Nation’s efforts to advance wind energy technology for large utility-scale and smaller distributed wind technologies. The Wind Program has worked in close partnership with industry and the national laboratories to expand the wind energy technology base and foster innovation, culminating in some of industry’s leading products today. The program has also created a family of internationally recognized wind turbine design tools that have led industry, utility, and government agencies in cooperative efforts to promote integration and acceptance of wind energy as a substantial contributor to meeting the Nation’s energy needs. These accomplishments have lead to a major improvements, resulting in a drop in the cost of wind energy from 80 cents/kWh in 1980 to as low as 5 cents/kWh today. These technology gains combined with Federal incentives have led to the development of more than 11,600 MW of wind energy capacity by the end of 2006, enough energy to supply over 2.6 million homes. This expanded use of wind technologies is well distributed across the Nation, which is demonstrated by the growth in the number of states with over 100 MW of installed wind technology—from 4 in 1999 to 19 today. The Federal expenditure of just over $1B for developing the U.S. wind market since the early 1970s has showed great dividends. The commercial investments for new U.S. wind capacity totaled more than $4B in 2006 alone. Similar investments are expected through 2008.

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