Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

DOE data show states with most wind energy have largest electric rate decline

By WPED Contributor | May 23, 2014

Newly released Department of Energy (DOE) data show that consumers in the states that use the most wind energy have fared far better than consumers in states that use less wind energy.

The 11 states that produce more than seven percent of their electricity from wind energy have seen their electricity prices fall by 0.37% over the last fice years, while all other states have seen their electricity prices increase by 7.79% over that time period.

The following charts summarize the change in power prices for consumers in Texas, Wyoming, Oregon, Oklahoma, Idaho, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa compared to all other states. Between the end of 2008 and the end of 2013, these eleven states more than doubled their operating wind power, increasing their wind capacity by 116%.

AWEA capacity report

Chart shows average contract price for wind energy has dropped 43% between 2008 and 2012. Source: Department of Energy Wind Technologies Market Report 2012.

Many factors influence the price of electricity in addition to wind energy, such as fuel prices, consumer demand, generation mix, and others. However, based on the data above and the studies discussed below, there is clear evidence that wind energy helps to keep consumers’ electricity prices down.

Americans knows a good deal when they see it. According to a Navigant Research poll, 72% of Americans support wind power, while a poll last month found more than 90% of Kansans support greater use of wind power.

At least 15 separate studies confirm wind energy drives electricity prices down

More than a dozen studies conducted by independent grid operators, state governments, academic experts, and others have found that wind energy benefits consumers by reducing electricity prices:

  • Illinois found that wind energy reduces consumer electricity costs by $177 million per year. Illinois.gov has the full report.
  • Massachusetts found the state Renewable Portfolio Standard has a 3:1 benefit-to-cost ratio, producing annual net benefits of $217 million. The full report is available from Mass.gov.
  • Synapse Energy Economics found that doubling wind energy deployment in PJM (Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes states) beyond existing RPS requirements would save consumers a net $6.9 billion per year, after accounting for all wind and transmission costs. Find the report from Synapse Energy here.
  • Six peer-reviewed academic studies, discussed in this literature review, confirm that wind energy reduces electricity market prices. EWEA has the full report here.

The full report titled “Wind Power’s Consumer Benefits” is available from AWEA here.

American Wind Energy Association
www.awea.org


Filed Under: News, Policy
Tagged With: AWEA, departmentofenergy, EWEA
 

About The Author

WPED Contributor

If you would like to contribute to Windpower, please contact us: https://www.windpowerengineering.com/meetourteam/

Comments

  1. Kelley says

    May 26, 2014 at 10:28 pm

    It would be a lot better if the wind energy that was produced in Kansas stayed in Kansas & wasn’t sold to other states. I think the energy companies should have to use the majority of wind energy produced here! Not Wolf Creek or coal or gas!!!

Related Articles Read More >

Equinor launches ECO Liberty service operations vessel for Empire Wind offshore project
Triton Anchor receives U.S. patents for offshore anchor
US government allows Empire Wind offshore project to resume construction
Richardson Electronics to deliver pitch energy modules to TransAlta wind fleets

Podcasts

Wind Spotlight: Looking back at a year of Thrive with ZF Wind Power
See More >

Windpower Engineering & Development Digital Edition Archive

Digital Edition

Explore the full archive of digital issues of Windpower Engineering & Development, presented in a high-quality, user-friendly format. Access current and past editions, clip, share, and download valuable content from the industry’s leading wind power engineering resource.

Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Wind Articles
  • Solar Power World
  • Subscribe to Windpower Engineering
  • About Us/Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising

Search Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe