AWEA Reports Top 20 States with Wind Energy Resource Potential-

Although wind energy is looked upon as a revered renewable source of power, there are not too many locations in the world where this technology would be able to fully sustain. Germany is considered the world’s leader in regard to installed wind power, with over 22,000 MW in place. Still, the country only has a small fraction of the wind energy capability of certain states in the U.S. The American Wind Energy Association has been a dynamic in wind energy awareness and have recently outlined the top 20 states where the wind potential is much greater than most. North Dakota is projected to produce 1,210 kWh, Texas capabilities are 1,190 kWh, with Kansas, South Dakota and Montana following close to 1070 kWh. Nebraska, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Colorado and New Mexico able to produce between 868-435 kWh; while, Idaho, Michigan, New York, Illinois, California, Wisconsin, Maine and Missouri follow with possible 73-52 kWh production annually.

According to the AWEA, installed wind energy generating capacity is now over 20,000 MW and the full amount of power that the U.S. is capable of producing has been estimated at 10,777 billion kWh annually, more than double the electricity currently produced in the U.S. If you are located in or around these high wind yielding states and would like to see wind powering your area, take action and lobby to your local government officials. You may just be one individual, but your voice can be heard if you bring educated suggestions and involve yourself in local activism. One thing is for sure; our dependence on fossil fuels and dead coal is just deepening our fiscal problems and environmental impact. Shifting our focus to renewable energy technologies will at least minimize our footprint on this planet and ensure a steadier, more balanced economic future.