Wind Power Potential in the U.S.
Surprising to many Americans - is the tremendous amount of wind resources that are available in the U.S.. In 48 of 52 states there exist adequate wind levels to support commercial wind power production facilities.
Today, the U.S. produces less than 1% of its total electricity from wind power. However, the potential is tremendous, in the state of North Dakota alone AWEA estimates that it could produce 1/3 rd of the country's electricity requirement by wind power. The total amount of wind power that could potentially be produced in the U.S. is suggested to be more than 3 times today's current electricity consumption in the country.
Wind farms are one example of ways that can meet the growing demands for power, another is self wind power production. With net metering and new innovations in Small Wind Turbines such as the Endurance On - Grid Small Wind Turbine - wind power solutions are now feasible alternatives for the mass market consumers who are looking at ways to contribute in an effective way to minimize their impact on global warming.
Listed below is a list of some of the windiest states in the US as per a research study done in 1991 by Pacific North West Laboratory - Titled - An Assessment of Available Windy Land Area and Windy Energy Potential in the Contiguous United States.
Top Listed States:
- North Dakota
- Texas
- Kansas
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Wyoming
- Oklahoma
- Minnesota
- Iowa
- Colorado
- New Mexico
- Idaho
- Michigan
- New York
- Illinois
- California
- Wisconsin
- Maine
- Missouri
