Anyone can now easily view the location of every utility-scale wind project and wind-related manufacturing facility in the United States, thanks to a new map tool released by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). With the very first American Wind Week in full swing, AWEA released the map to help people visualize the growth of America’s largest source of renewable energy capacity.
“Wind power has become a vital part of the U.S. economy, drawing billions of dollars in capital investment to rural communities each year and supporting over 100,000 U.S. jobs across all 50 states,” said John Hensley, Deputy Director of Industry Data and Analysis for AWEA.
“I’m pleased this new map tool helps Americans visualize how world-class U.S. wind resources are being put to work in all parts of the county,” he added.
A time-lapse feature built into the map shows the progress of wind power development across the country. Starting from 1981 in the passes of California where the first modern wind energy projects were completed, users can see the story of American wind power unfold across heartland states like Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma and Kansas, and eventually to the first U.S. offshore wind project completed off Rhode Island in 2016.
The map also features markers for the more than 500 wind-related manufacturing facilities in the U.S. today. These factories support 25,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs across 41 states.
AWEA’s new map utilizes only a small percentage of the full wind project and manufacturing data available to AWEA members through Market Database Pro, a comprehensive, interactive database of all online, under construction, and advanced development wind projects, and all active wind-related manufacturing facilities.
Over 50 data points are provided at both the project and turbine level, with advanced interactive mapping services including filtered search capabilities, summary maps, and political boundaries.
This week is the inaugural #AmericanWindWeek, dedicated to U.S. leadership in wind power. Wind is the largest source of American renewable energy capacity, supporting over 100,000 U.S. jobs across all 50 states, with nearly 85,000 MW of installed capacity at the end of the second quarter of 2017.
Filed Under: News, Projects