According to the latest report from the American Wind Energy Association, more than 10,000 megawatts of wind generating capacity was installed in 2009, marking the largest such gains for the industry in its history.
The amount of generating capacity installed last year was said to be equivalent to the output of three large nuclear power plants.
Looking ahead, one trend to watch for in the industry could be the emergence of large offshore wind farms, which are being considered in a handful of states, including Massachusetts and New Jersey.
A total of 36 states were said to have utility-scale wind projects, with 14 of them generating more than 1,000 megawatts. About 85,000 people are employed in various jobs in the wind industry nationwide.
For its part, solar energy has also continued to grow substantially in the past year, with more homes, businesses and utility companies taking advantage of tax incentives to make further gains for clean energy nationwide.
