Nationwide event launches dedicated to U.S. leadership in wind power

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 7, 2017 — The inaugural American Wind Week, a celebration of U.S. leadership in wind power, officially begins today and runs through August 12. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) designated American Wind Week recognizing wind power is now the largest source of U.S. renewable energy capacity and supports over 100,000 U.S. jobs across all 50 states. Modern wind turbines were invented in the U.S. and American wind projects are among the most productive in the world. Businesses, schools, government and communities across the country are encouraged to share what American wind power leadership means to them during American Wind Week.

"We started American Wind Week to honor the American innovators who taught the world how to harness the wind for large-scale electricity generation. They shaped the wind into a productive resource that makes all Americans safer and our economy more prosperous," said Tom Kiernan, CEO of AWEA. "And we arent about to cede wind power leadership. Every day U.S. wind workers put up an average of 10 more new turbines. Those turbines are the tip of a vast manufacturing supply chain, and theyre a rural economic development engine that spans all 50 states."

Wind power has grown to be a mainstream source of affordable, reliable electricity in the United States. A standard two-megawatt (MW) wind turbine in the U.S. generates enough electricity to power more than 550 average American homes, nearly twice the productivity of wind turbines in China and Germany. Today there are over 52,000 wind turbines in 41 states, producing enough electricity for 25 million average American homes.

Close to 99 percent of U.S. wind power capacity can be found in rural communities like Fowler, Indiana, where AWEA is hosting a wind energy fair during American Wind Week. Fowler encapsulates how valuable wind power can be. Wind projects in surrounding Benton County, with just over 8,000 residents, have drawn over $2 billion in capital investment. Nationwide, U.S. wind projects built over the last decade represent over $143 billion of investment.

Similar stories can be found across the U.S. heartland, where harvesting the wind builds stronger rural communities, including a quarter billion dollars being paid in lease payments to farmers and ranchers each year, and local taxes being used to repave roads, pay teachers higher salaries, and even build new schools.

Wind is a powerful job creator, with over 100,000 American wind workers across all 50 states. Wind jobs grew 9 times faster than the overall economy last year, and "wind turbine technician" is the fastest growing job in America, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over 60 percent of the value of a wind project is made-in-America by 25,000 workers at over 500 factories. Wind jobs are well-paying careers and an opportunity for U.S. veterans, which wind employs at a rate 50 percent higher than the average industry.

Even if youve never seen a wind farm up close, wind energy plays an important and growing role in Americans everyday lives. Wind power supplies over 5 percent of U.S. electricity today, with states like Iowa and South Dakota producing over 30 percent wind on an annual basis. Adding more wind energy to the electricity grid makes the system more affordable and reliable because wind has no fuel cost and delivers valuable services that make the grid more resilient.

Thanks to wind energys low and stable prices, major brands like Google, General Motors, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, and Walmart are buying wind energy to power the products and services you use every day. Google is 95 percent powered by wind energy. General Motors powers its Arlington Assembly plant in Texas, which makes over 1,000 SUVs a day, with 50 percent wind energy this year, expanding to 100 percent next year. Every bottle of Tide, Downy and Mr. Clean is made with 100 percent wind energy.

Visit Americanwindweek.org to learn more. Share what U.S. wind leadership means to you on social media with #americanwindweek from August 6-12.

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AWEA is the national trade association of the U.S. wind energy industry. We represent 1,000 member companies and over 100,000 jobs in the U.S. economy, serving as a powerful voice for how wind works for America. Members include global leaders in wind power and energy development, turbine manufacturing, and component and service suppliers. They gather each year at the Western Hemispheres largest wind power trade show, the AWEA WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition, next in Chicago, May 7-10, 2018. Find information about wind energy on the AWEA website. Gain insight into industry issues on AWEA's blog, Into the Wind. And please join us on Facebook, and follow @AWEA on Twitter.