With 4,041 MW completed, the fourth quarter was the strongest in the year but still lower than the fourth quarter of 2008. Overall, the 9,922 MW installed in 2009 brought the total wind power generating capacity in the US to more than 35,000 MW.
Texas strengthened its position as the top state for wind power, installing 2,292 MW, and Indiana, a relative newcomer, followed in second place by installing 905 MW. Indiana also featured the largest wind project of the year, the 600 MW Fowler Ridge Wind Farm. See the AWEA press release and the AWEA 2009 report (PDF 842 KB).
Globally, wind power capacity grew by 31% in 2009, adding 37.5 GW, according to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). A third of new capacity went online in China, growing from 12.1 GW in 2008 to 25.1 GW in 2009. That's an increase of 13 GW, about 31% greater than the growth in the US. China is now in third place for total installed wind capacity, falling just behind Germany, but still about 10 GW behind the US. See the GWEC press release and supporting tables (PDF 2.1 MB).
U.S. Geothermal Capacity Grew 6% in 2009
Geothermal capacity expanded 6% in the US in 2009 - six new geothermal plants came online, adding 176.68 MW. Three projects are in Nevada, and one in California, Oregon, and Utah. Total US capacity reached 3,152.72 MW as of August 2009, according to the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA).
GEA has identified 6442.9 MW of new U.S. geothermal power plant capacity under development, though some projects may not go forward. Seven projects with an estimated 125 MW of capacity have drilling and facility construction underway in California, Florida, Nevada and Oregon.
One of those projects-at Jay Oil Field in Florida-will use hot water produced by oil and gas wells to generate power. Two such projects started up in Louisiana and Mississippi in 2009, and more are planned for Louisiana, Nevada, and Wyoming. See the GEA press release (PDF 25 KB), the GEA report update (PDF 394 KB), and the Web site for DOE's Geothermal Technologies Program.
GM Invests $246 Million in Electric Motors, Components
General Motors announced it will invest $246 million in its facilities in Baltimore, Maryland, for manufacturing electric motors and electric drives.
A high-volume electric drive production facility at the Baltimore Transmission plant will produce electric motors for GM's rear-wheel-drive hybrid technology starting in 2013. The factory will be the first electric motor manufacturing facility in the US to be operated by a major automaker. In August, DOE selected GM for a $105 million grant from the Recovery Act for the construction of U.S. manufacturing capabilities to produce electric motors and related electric drive components. See the GM press release.
At the Washington Auto Show, which ran from January 27-31 in Washington, D.C., GM announced the D.C. area will be one of three initial launch markets (along with Michigan and California) for the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle (EV).
GM also announced a development and demonstration vehicle charging program with two D.C.-area utilities. The project is part of DOE's Transportation Electrification Initiative, using $30 million in Recovery Act funds.
