States Leading the Move to Wind Power in the U.S.

As of 2022, wind power is the largest renewable energy source in the United States. The amount of electricity generated from wind power has grown significantly in the past 30 years. The total installed wind capacity in the United States was over 130 GW by the end of 2021. This was exceeded only by China on the global scale.

Wind Energy by 2030, a report by the US Department of Energy (DOE), envisions that wind power could supply 20% of all electricity generated in the country. The US’s total wind capacity will have reached 224.07GW by 2030, DOE estimates. That means the nation’s total wind capacity will have increased by more than 100GW since 2020.

Installed wind capacity in the US varies by state due to various factors, such as size, climate and policy. Let us have a look at the top five states which were reported to have the most wind capacity in 2021:

1. Texas: The state leader of wind power in the US is Texas. It has a total installed capacity of 33133 MW. This is considered enough to power over 6 million homes. The Los Vientos Wind Farm is the most powerful wind farm in Texas. It has a total installed capacity of 912 MW. It is followed by the Roscoe Wind Farm, with a total installed capacity of 781.5 MW. The Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center is third with a total installed capacity of 735.5 MW.
2. Iowa – In a somewhat distant second place is Iowa. It has a total installed capacity of 11660 MW. More than 57% of electricity generated in Iowa comes from wind power. This is the highest in the country.
3. Oklahoma: In a state where the wind comes sweeping down the plains, it is unsurprising that Oklahoma has a total installed capacity of 9048 MW. This places it firmly in the third place. Its share of electricity generated from wind power is more than 35%. Some of the wind farms in Oklahoma include the Blue Canyon Wind Farm, with a total installed capacity of 324 MW, the Weatherford Wind Energy Center, with a total installed capacity of 147 MW, and the Red Hills Wind Farm, with a total installed capacity of 123 MW.
4. Kansas: Kansas has strong wind power. It has a total installed capacity of 7016 MW. More than 43% of electricity generated in Kansas comes from wind power. It trails only Iowa in this aspect. The state signed the renewable portfolio standards into law in 2009. It required utilities to generate 20% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. The law was so successful that it was converted from a standard to a voluntary goal by 2015.
5. Illinois: Home of Windy City Chicago, Illinois has a total installed capacity of 6409 MW. It also has about 1000 MW under construction. Illinois has also passed its own version of the renewable portfolio standards. It requires utilities to generate 25% of their energy from renewable sources by 2025. Illinois is also looking to commit to a 100% green energy mix. Some of the wind farms in Illinois include the Twin Groves Wind Farm with a total installed capacity of 396 MW, the Radford Run Wind Farm with a total installed capacity of 306 MW and the Streator Cayuga Ridge South Wind Farm with a total installed capacity of 300 MW.

Contributed By Vedang Singh