20 Percent Wind

Wind power can play a major role in meeting America's increasing demand for electricity, according to a groundbreaking technical report (click here).

The report recommends that the nation sets a goal to implement a 20% Wind Scenario by the year 2030.

New wind power installations would increase to more than 16,000 MW per year by 2018, and continue at that rate through 2030. No technological breakthroughs are needed. In the 20% Wind Scenario, 46 states would experience significant wind power development.

The report finds that by 2030, the U.S. wind industry could:

• support roughly 500,000 jobs in the U.S., with an annual average of more than 150,000 workers directly employed by the wind industry;
• support more than 100,000 jobs in associated industries (e.g., accountants, lawyers, steel workers, and electrical manufacturing);
• support more than 200,000 jobs through economic expansion based on local spending;
• increase annual property tax revenues to more than $1.5 billion by 2030; and
• increase annual payments to rural landowners to more than $600 million in 2030.
  

Using more domestic wind power will diversify the nation's energy portfolio — adding wind-generated electricity at stable prices — and strengthen national energy security.