Last year, 42 percent of new electricity generation capacity in the United States came from onshore wind, more than any other source, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (Energy Department – Department of Energy) from this week’s report CNBC. In contrast, solar power accounted for just 38 percent of new capacity last year.
According to research by the Department of Energy Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, in 2020, the energy infrastructure in the United States was expanded with a record capacity of 16,836 megawatts of new onshore wind capacity, which represents about $24.6 billion in new wind energy investment. This capacity, i.e. the maximum amount of electricity that can be produced under ideal conditions, measures, while the actual energy production can be much less than this depending on wind conditions.
The Department of Energy noted that last year, wind power was able to provide more than half of the state’s electricity generation and sales in some states. Iowa was at the fore, with wind power accounting for 57 percent of the state’s electricity generation. However, Iowa has many wind turbines and not a very large population. Last year’s growth in US onshore wind power was partly driven by production tax breaks that are in the process of being operational and encouraged development ahead of schedule.
Advances in wind technology have also encouraged the deployment of onshore wind farms. Newer models compared to older wind turbines With taller towers and longer blades which can produce more energy in high winds.
In addition to onshore wind farms, there are several inland offshore wind farm development projects. Last year, however, offshore wind farms did not operate in most parts of the United States. The Block Island Wind Farm near Rhode Island and the Offshore Virginia Offshore Wind Energy Pilot Project (off the coast of Virginia Beach) are the first offshore wind farms to operate in the United States. Another project, Vineyard Wind 1, south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, has obtained all permits and signed contracts to sell and bring power into the grid.
The Department of Energy reports that there are 15 more offshore wind projects in the pipeline that have already reached the permitting stage and seven wind energy parks that the federal government believes could be leased in the future. The Biden government intends to expand US offshore wind capacity to 30 gigawatts by 2030, as part of its goal to achieve a carbon-neutral energy sector by 2035.
