The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) identified the industry’s top accomplishments and developments in 2009.

1. 2009 Wind Industry Highlights
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) identified the industry’s top accomplishments and developments in
2009.
The following is an excerpt. The full list is available at the link below.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 Funds a Lifeline: The ARRA included several provisions
to spur development of wind and other renewable energy industries along with the Treasury Grant Program, which by
year end had supplied over $1.5 billion in crucial capital. Since the early July announcement to implement the stimulus
bill, at least 37 different wind projects.
… But Manufacturing Still Lags: Wind turbine manufacturing, however, has fallen behind 2008 levels in both
announcements and in production activity. While this is bad news, the good news is that a solution is readily available: A
strong national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) will create the market certainty that manufacturers need in order to
invest, enabling the U.S. to become a wind turbine manufacturing powerhouse creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Strong Support for a National Renewable Electricity Standard (RES): An RES is included in the House version of
climate legislation passed this spring and in pending Senate energy legislation. The wind industry, backed by popular
support, continues to advocate for swift passage of a strong RES. A poll released by AWEA in May showed that over
75% of Americans, including 71% of independents and 62% of Republicans, support an RES requiring that 25% of the
nation’s electricity be generated from renewable energy by 2025.
National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Study Shows Conventional Power Costs Plenty: The NAS calculated that
fossil fuels cost the U.S. $120 billion a year, including $62 billion from coal plants, in damages to human health. The
figures do not include damages from climate change, harm to ecosystems, or effects of some air pollutants such as
mercury. The NAS study is a reminder of the high hidden cost that energy-related pollution inflicts on our society and of
the environmental and economic imperative of using renewable energy.
Avoiding Carbon: The electricity produced by the entire fleet of wind turbines installed in the U.S. through 2009 will
avoid emitting over 57 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, based on the conventional mix of fuels used for electricity
generation. That is equivalent to taking over 9.5 million cars off the road.
Saving Water: The electricity from the entire fleet of turbines installed through 2009 will conserve over 20 billion gallons
of water annually, which would otherwise be withdrawn for steam or cooling in conventional power plants. Wind power
makes it possible to meet our energy needs without further polluting or diminishing valuable water resources.
R&D Funding Up: President Obama signed an $80 million appropriation for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE)
Wind Program. The funding, which was part of the energy and water appropriations bill, is a $25 million increase from
last year and $5 million above the President’s budget request. It also includes an additional $22.8 million in funding for

2. wind-specific projects across the country. According to International Energy Agency numbers, the $80 million allocation
is the highest funding level, adjusted for inflation, since 1981.
20% by 2030 Report Card: "B" AWEA issued its first annual progress report card on the roadmap as outlined in the
DOE 2008 “20% Wind by 2030” Report. The U.S. received a solid “B” for its 2008 progress toward reaching 20% of
electricity supply from wind energy by 2030, but could be “at the high-water mark” for wind without a strong and
immediate national policy commitment to renewable energy.
Progress on Siting: AWEA welcomed a U.S. government Memorandum of Understanding to improve coordination
among nine federal agencies and minimize delays in the permit approval process on federal lands. Additionally, the wind
industry continued cooperative research studies on bats and other species to ensure the best science is available for
decision-making.
Property Values Study: A study released in December by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory concluded that proximity to wind energy facilities does not have a pervasive or widespread adverse effect on
the property values of nearby homes.
Sound Panel Report: A multidisciplinary panel concluded that the sounds generated by wind turbines are not harmful to
human health. Comprised of medical doctors, audiologists, and acoustical professionals from the U.S., Canada,
Denmark, and the United Kingdom, and convened by AWEA and the Canadian Wind Energy Association, the panel
undertook extensive review and analysis of the body of peer-reviewed literature on the topic.
A Thousand Businesses Join AWEA: In another sign of the continued development and expansion of the wind
industry, AWEA experienced significant growth in 2009. The association gained over 1,000 new business members--the
largest increase ever for the association in a single year. Many of these new members are companies entering or
seeking to enter the wind turbine supply chain.
Momentum Towards First U.S. Offshore Wind Farm Accelerates: The announcement of the Minerals Management
Service guidelines for the siting of offshore renewable energy projects, the issuance of requests for proposals in Lakes
Erie and Ontario and of power purchase agreements in the mid-Atlantic, the establishment by the U.S. Interior
Department of a mid-Atlantic renewable energy office, and the participation of two Governors and record attendance at
AWEA’s offshore workshop this fall are clear signs that offshore wind power is on its way to become a reality in the U.S.
Small Wind Systems for Homes and Businesses: The U.S. government expanded the critical federal Investment Tax
Credit for small wind systems to provide an 8-year, uncapped 30% tax credit for small wind systems. The U.S.
Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency incorporated small wind systems into their popular
Energy Star consumer certification program. This is the first time Energy Star has addressed electricity-generating
technology.

3. "Wind power is a symbol of hope in our economy and supports thousands of jobs, but U.S. wind turbine manufacturing is
lagging at the very time that the global clean energy race is heating up," said AWEA CEO Denise Bode. "One of the most
urgent measures that our government can enact is a national Renewable Electricity Standard, which will unleash in the
U.S. a wave of manufacturing investment that will otherwise go overseas. Many companies are eager to enter or ramp
up their activities in this sector, as this year’s highlights show, but all need to see a long-term commitment with hard
targets to renewable energy in order to be able to invest."