According to the Washington, D.C.-based American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) “The U.S. wind energy industry easily broke earlier annual installed capacity records in 2005, installing nearly 2,500 megawatts (MW) or over $3 billion worth of new generating equipment in 22 states,” and “2006 is expected to be even bigger, with installations topping 3,000 MW.” (1) This brings the total U.S. installed wind power fleet capacity to 9,149 MW. (1) Well, I am glad that we finally broke some records in the right direction! Is this suppose to be some big moment though?

Although I know this is just the start, and am all for wind energy, and fully appreciate the benefits of the fact that the AWEA said these moves will “produce as much electricity annually as 2.3 million average American households use, and will displace emissions of more than 15 million tons of carbon dioxide (the leading greenhouse gas) annually, (1) I for some reason cannot shake the idea that this is somehow designed to make us feel like there is some big change going on, when really there is not. I mean, is 9,149 megawatts per year that much? Just a couple of weeks ago, Whole Foods announced they would be purchasing 458,000 megawatt hours per year of wind energy.

Well, I don’t want to poo-poo this any further so I will just leave it with a quote from AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher, who said "Thanks to Congress's extending the wind energy production credit before it expired for the first time in the credit's history, the wind industry is looking forward to several record-breaking years in a row.” (1) Let's hope the next ones are better than this one.

(1) U.S. wind industry ends most productive year, sustained growth expected for at least next two years . (2006). PRNewswire, . Retrieved Jan 24, 2006, from http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-24-2006/0004266590&EDATE=