China leapfrogs U.S. wind power industry

Chinese turbines are now harnessing more wind power than machines installed in the U.S., according to a trade group Monday.

For the first time ever, the Asian giant’s capacity –- the amount of electricity that can be generated using wind –- blew past the U.S. to soar 62% to 41,800 megawatts. American-based turbines can produce up to 40,180 megawatts, a 15% jump from the beginning of 2010, according to a report from the American Wind Energy Assn.

The U.S. wind market had a rough year overall, ending 2010 with 5,115 megawatts of new installations –- just half of the record amount put up in 2009. The fourth quarter saw just 3,195 megawatts erected, a slide from the 4,113 installed in the same period in 2009.

The association blamed short-lived government subsidies.

But after a key incentive, the 1603 federal Treasury grant program, was extended for a year in December, the wind industry began to perk up. As 2011 begins, roughly 5,600 megawatts of wind power capacity is under construction, the trade group said.

Some new projects being hammered out include electricity prices set at 5 cents or 6 cents per kilowatt hour, which would make wind power competitive with natural gas, the association said.

“Our industry continues to endure a boom-bust cycle because of the lack of long-term, predictable federal policies, in contrast to the permanent entitlements that fossil fuels have enjoyed for 90 years or more,” said Denise Bode, the group’s chief executive, in a statement.

Companies have built utility-scale wind projects in 38 states so far. Texas leads the pack with 10,085 total megawatts of capacity, followed by Iowa with 3,675 megawatts.

California, which features the windy Altamont Pass and Tehachapi regions, lags in third place with 3,177 megawatts installed.

RELATED:

Congress extends federal Treasury grant program for renewable energy projects

U.S. has highest cumulative wind power capacity, China has most new capacity

Wind farm 'mega-project' underway in Mojave Desert

-- Tiffany Hsu

Photo: A China Resources New Energy Group Co. Ltd. employee stands on a wind turbine maintenance platform in Shantou, Guangdong province, China. Credit: Forbes Conrad/Bloomberg

Comments

[Get Planted]

Nuclear power can never be profitable in the U.S without the government-provided liability insurance progam created by the Price Anderson Act.

[Andy]

Very Interesting.This website is a good and wonderful source of valuable informaton. Have some look also in this related website.http://www.windpowersaveenergy.info/

[mrlewish]

So what about subsidies.. public schools and colleges are subsidized yet we consider that a good investment. Why not wind and solar power? These are things that keep on giving and never run out or make you beholden to another country.

[Michael Copeland]

Perhaps in a follow up article we could learn more about wind power subsidies in China and other countries so we might better understand where United States ranks in its support for the wind power industry.

Michael Copeland
Missoula, MT

[windfarmer56]

The real question is how much did China pay in subsidies to pass the US?

[Los Angeles maids]

China has been making a huge improvement on technology these days. I have heard their skycrapers which are being built in the country and other high end devices.

[shadowpark]

well china will now be the leader .
they have the vision we lack!

[jaytee]

Go China! (Just another harbinger of the USA slipping toward third world status).