MADE IN U.S.A. WIND

Domestic Content Rising in U.S. Wind Industry
August 10, 2010 (Sustainable Business)

"The U.S. wind industry in 2009 sourced roughly 60% of turbines and components domestically [up from about 50% in 2008], according to the Department of Energy's (DOE) latest Wind Technologies Market Report…

"This year's Report is the first to estimate the amount of equipment imported from other countries. It finds that the growing percentage of domestic manufacturing is the result of U.S. and foreign companies seeking to minimize transportation costs and currency risks."

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"According to the report, 2009 was another record-breaking year for U.S. wind power additions. The 10 gigawatts (GW) of capacity additions represent a $21 billion investment in new wind power projects, and enough capacity to power the equivalent of 2.4 million homes. Wind projects accounted for 39% of all new U.S. electric generating capacity in 2009, and wind energy is now able to deliver 2.5% of the nation's electricity supply…"

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"…Market growth is spurring manufacturing investments in the United States; seven of the ten wind turbine manufacturers with the largest share of the U.S. market in 2009 have manufacturing facilities in the United States, and two of the remaining three have announced plans to open U.S. facilities in the future…

"Financial constraints, electricity prices, and energy demand suggest that 2010 will be a slower year for wind power …[but] the U.S. wind market is likely to be resurgent in 2011 and 2012, as programs funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 mature and financing constraints continue to ease…"