At the end of 2015, the installed capacity for wind power in Washington was 3,075 megawatts (MW) with wind power accounting for 7,100 GWh, or 6% of the electricity generated in the state during 2014. The state ranks among the top ten in terms of cumulative wind capacity.
State legislative support
Initiative 937 requires electric utilities with 25,000 or more customers to have 15 percent of their power supply generated from renewable resources by 2020. Washington state has sales tax exemptions for wind energy. Washington state provides utility grants, loans and rebates for wind power.
Notable projects
Potential capacity
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that Washington has potential to install over 18,000 megawatts of onshore wind power. Washington ranks 24th in its potential for onshore wind generation, and also has the potential to install 120,964 MW of offshore wind generation which could generate 488,025 GWh/year.
Installed
Installed wind power capacity in Washington has seen strong growth in recent years and Washington now ranks among the top ten states with the most wind power installed. Wind power accounted for 5.3% of total electricity generated in Washington during 2011.
The table below shows the growth in wind power installed nameplate capacity in MW for Washington since 1999.
Statistics
See also
- Wind power in the United States
- List of wind farms in the United States
References
External links
- Northwest Wind Industry Alliance (NWIA) official webpage
- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Washington
- U.S. Wind Energy Projects - Washington
- Washington Wind Activities
