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U.S. Adds Record Wind-Power Capacity in 2007

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In 2000, installed wind power capacity totaled 2,550 MW and generated only about 5.5 billion kWh of electricity — less than 1% of U.S. electricity generation. The total amount of electricity that could potentially be generated from wind in the United States has been estimated at 10,777 billion kWh annually, which is more than three times the amount the electricity currently generated in the U.S.

The U.S. wind industry experienced unprecedented growth in 2007, surpassing even optimistic projections from years past. The graphic featured above explains where that growth occurred the most dramatically in the United States.