Wind surpassed hydro generation, produced jobs at nine times national rate in 2016, according to AWEA report

Published on April 19, 2017 by Daily Energy Insider Reports


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Wind generation surpassed conventional hydropower to become the largest source of renewable energy, adding jobs at a rate nine times the national average in 2016, according to the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) 2016 U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report.

Wind industry leaders released the report at a press event at the Minnesota State Capitol on Wednesday. Speakers at the event included AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan, Xcel Energy CEO Ben Fowke and Vestas Americas President Chris Brown. Doug Fredrickson, vice president of Blattner Energy, moderated the event.

Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) sent a letter of support for the release, which was
read at the event.

“Wind power is a critical component of an all-of-the-above energy approach focused on reducing consumer costs, furthering advances in renewable technologies, and moving our country closer to total energy independence,” Emmer wrote in the letter. “I will continue to support policies that further a comprehensive approach to improve our country’s energy outlook and ensure that American wind production remains a key component of that strategy.”

Wind energy added 8,000 megawatts (MW) in 2016 and now supplies 5.5 percent of electricity in the United States, the study found. The upper Midwest had especially high shares of wind generation, with wind providing 36.6 percent of Iowa’s electricity, the largest share of any state.

The report also found that technological improvements now allow wind turbines to produce 50 percent more electricity than in 2009 at one third of the cost.

The wind energy industry added 15,000 jobs in 2016 and now supports 102,500 jobs in the United States, according to the study. Of those jobs, 25,000 are factory positions at more than 500 U.S. factories that produce wind parts. Ohio has the highest number of wind factories with 62 in the state, followed by Wisconsin and Pennsylvania each with 26 and Michigan with 25.

“Today more than ever we hear the call from the President to bring American jobs back,” Brown said. “We also hear the call to revitalize the failing manufacturing base, and we hear the call to recommit the engines of our economy for the benefit of the American worker, which we’re doing. So, the U.S. wind industry – we’re answering that call, and we’re answering it today, not tomorrow.”

Brown also noted that one turbine creates 44 jobs in areas including construction, manufacturing, utilities and the supply chain.

Almost all wind farms are built in rural areas and 84 percent of wind capacity installed in the last four years was built in states that voted for President Trump, the report said.

Amid concerns about the effect the Trump administration will have on renewable energy, the speakers at the press event expressed confidence that wind could compete with other sources of energy even without incentives.

“I think renewables have a very bright future,” Brown said. “I think it’s the reason why we can phase out some of the incentives because the technology’s improving at a pace that it will compete head on without incentives.”

Fowke noted both the economic and environmental benefits of wind power and discussed plans for Xcel Energy to add 2400 MW of wind by 2021 and reduce their carbon emissions by 45 percent by 2021 compared to 2005 levels.

“Today, 19 percent of our energy comes from wind, and that has been a big part, in addition to some other decisions we’ve made, in reducing our carbon emissions since 2005 by 30 percent.” Fowke said. “We’re really excited about that. We’re proud of that, but I’ve got to tell you we’re not satisfied with that. We’re going to do more.”

Fowke also expressed the need for continued advancement of renewable energy technology and improvements to the electrical grid.

“We’re studying just how much renewables, both wind and solar and other forms, you can have on your system, and I’m pleased to tell you the more we learn about it, the more we develop it … and the more we invest in our grid, I think the more renewables we can put on our systems and not sacrifice reliability,” Fowke said.