In 2019, the U.S.
wind power industry
had its third
record-breaking
year in a row
for new wind power
capacity installed.
New wind capacity
was 9.14 GW in 2019.
44 GW is currently
under construction,
or in the planning stage.
About 18.5 GW of U.S.
new wind power capacity
is expected to come online
in 2020.
But the Energy Information
Administration ( EIA )
is pessimistic about
U.S. wind power growth
after 2020.
In a March 2019 report,
the EIA said wind power
installation additions
could slow down
due to higher costs
after expiration of the
production tax credit
( PTC )
at the end of 2020.
Wind farm
developers
are rushing
to add
megawatts of
new capacity
before the production
tax credit expires
at the end of this year.
Also, the best sites
for onshore wind farms
are already taken.
In the first half of 2019,
electricity produced
by onshore wind farms
in the United States
was just +1.6% more
than the first half of 2018.
The industry
claims there was
less wind blowing
iwhere wind farms
were located.
In the second half
of 2019, electricity
output from onshore
wind farms rose
by +22.4% from
a year earlier,
showing how much
wind energy can vary
from year to year.
Wind and solar together
are expected to account
for three quarters of
all new electricity
generation capacity
additions in 2019,
the EIA reported.
State renewable
energy portfolio
standards
could support
wind power
growth.
39 states require
a certain portion
of the state’s power
to come from
renewable sources.
Some states
are committing
to 100% renewable
electric power.
These state
renewables
commitments
could provide
a strong push
for more
wind power
capacity.
But will the same
government officials
making those
commitments,
still be pushing
for them after
the 2020 election ?
Not if they
lose the
election !