The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released on May 31st, 2007 its first Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends: 2006.  the The report concludes that U.S. wind power capacity increased by 27 percent in 2006; and that the U.S. had the fastest growing wind power capacity in the world in 2005 and 2006.  More than 61 percent of the U.S.'s total wind capacity - over 7,300 Megawatts (MW) - has been installed since President Bush took office in 2001. 

Specifically, some of the key findings of the Report include:

• The U.S. is the fastest growing wind market worldwide. There remains substantial potential for the expansion of wind power to achieve approximately 20 percent of the nation’s generating mix.
• Texas, Washington, and California lead the U.S. in annual capacity growth.
• Wind power is competitive and has provided good value in wholesale power markets.  Wind power has consistently been priced at, or below, the average price of conventional electricity (coal, nuclear, natural gas, etc.).
• The cost of turbines has risen since 2002.  Higher costs have reversed the decline in total wind project costs and driven up the cost of generating wind power.  Turbine cost increases have been driven by rises in input material and energy prices, and some shortages in certain turbine components.
• Wind project performance, has increased sharply over the last several years.  This has been driven in part by improved project siting, and technological advancements.
• The wind market is in a period of transition.  Electric utilities have shown increased interest in wind project ownership, and merchant wind power plants and sales to power marketers have become more common. 

You can read the full DOE press release here

2006 installed wind power "enough to power the homes in a city the size of Philadelphia"
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