Wind Reaches "High Water Mark"

A recent American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) report indicates that in 2015, wind surpassed hydroelectricity in U.S. installed capacity. The nation's hydroelectric generating facilities had long been the largest source of renewable energy capacity. Thanks to the extension of the production tax credit (PTC) for wind generation resources through 2019 (with a gradual phase down in the amount of the credit available), the construction of wind generation has continued to surge.

The analysis reported that installed capacity for wind was 82,183 megawatts compared to hydro's 78,956 megawatts in 2015. The PTC, along with individual state mandates for increasing renewable energy resources over the past few years, is credited with the substantial increase in the development of wind generation resources.