Wind power is part of the energy industry and has grown quickly in the United States in recent years. In 2025, wind power produced 464.4 terawatt-hours of electricity, which is 10.48% of the total electricity in the United States. On average, a wind turbine can generate enough electricity in 46 minutes to power the average American home for one month. In 2019, wind power became the largest source of renewable energy in the United States, surpassing hydroelectric power. In March and April of 2024, electricity from wind power exceeded electricity from coal, which was once the main source of electricity in the United States, for a long period for the first time. The federal government and many state governments have policies that help support the development of wind power, such as tax credits and renewable portfolio standards.

As of December 2023, the total installed wind power nameplate generating capacity in the United States was 147,500 megawatts (MW), an increase from 141,300 megawatts (MW) in January 2023. However, total energy generation slightly decreased due to weather conditions. This capacity is only exceeded by China and the European Union. The largest growth in wind power capacity occurred in 2020, when 16,913 MW of wind power was installed. This was followed by 2021, with 13,365 MW installed, and 2012, which added 11,895 MW, or 26.5% of new power capacity installed that year.

By September 2019, 19 states had more than 1,000 MW of installed wind power capacity. Five states—Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, and California—produced more than half of all wind energy in the nation. Texas has the most installed wind power capacity of any U.S. state, with 39,450 MW, generating about 25% of the state’s total electricity in 2024. Iowa produces the highest percentage of its total energy from wind power, at over 57%. North Dakota currently has the highest wind energy generation per person.

The Alta Wind Energy Center in California is the largest completed wind farm in the United States, with a capacity of 1,548 MW. When completed in 2026, the SunZia Wind project in Central New Mexico will be the largest wind farm in the western hemisphere, with over 900 turbines and a generating capacity of 3,500 MW. GE Power is the largest domestic manufacturer of wind turbines.

Many wind farm projects have been delayed by new rules and a slower federal approval process under the Trump administration, which supports the use of fossil fuels.

History

The first use of multiple wind-electric turbines by a city or town in the United States may have been a system with five turbines in Pettibone, North Dakota in 1940. These were commercial wind-electric units called Winchargers mounted on towers supported by guy wires.

In 1980, the world's first wind farm was built at Crotched Mountain in New Hampshire. This wind farm had twenty wind turbines, each producing 30 kW of power.

From 1974 to the mid-1980s, the United States government worked with companies to improve wind turbine technology and create large wind turbines for commercial use. A series of wind turbines developed by NASA were created as part of a program to build a large-scale wind turbine industry in the U.S. This program was funded by the National Science Foundation and later by the United States Department of Energy (DOE). Thirteen experimental wind turbines were built, using four main wind turbine designs. This research program helped develop many technologies used in modern wind turbines, including steel tube towers, variable-speed generators, composite blade materials, partial-span pitch control, and advances in aerodynamic, structural, and acoustic engineering.

In the 1980s, California offered tax rebates for wind power. These rebates helped pay for the first major use of wind power to generate electricity for the public. These wind machines, grouped in large wind parks like Altamont Pass, would be considered small and not cost-effective by today’s standards. In 1985, half of the world’s wind energy was produced at Altamont Pass. By the end of 1986, about 6,700 wind turbines, mostly producing less than 100 kW of power, had been installed at Altamont Pass, costing about $1 billion. These turbines produced about 550 GWh of electricity each year.

Economics

In April 2023, version 16.0 of the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) report from Lazard showed that the cost to produce energy from onshore wind ranges between $24 and $75 per megawatt-hour (MWh). Offshore wind energy costs between $72 and $140 per MWh. The lowest cost for onshore wind ($24/MWh) is the lowest cost for energy without government support, along with utility-scale solar power. Traditional power plants, such as gas combined cycle plants and nuclear plants, have costs ranging from $39/MWh to $221/MWh. The average cost for onshore wind energy increased from $36/MWh in 2021 to $50/MWh in 2023. Similar increases were reported across other energy sources.

In 2021, the United States Energy Information Administration estimated that the cost to produce new onshore wind energy without government support in 2023 would be 3 cents per kilowatt-hour ($30/MWh). The report noted that LCOE calculations may not fully show the value of energy sources that can be turned on or off, like gas turbines, compared to those that cannot, like wind farms. The report also included a calculation called levelized avoided cost of energy (LACE), which helps show the economic value of energy sources more clearly.

Government support, such as investment tax credits and production tax credits, lowers the cost of wind energy. These supports are expected to decrease and end in the future.

Renewable portfolio standards require energy providers to use renewable energy, such as wind and solar, which are not always available. This requirement increases costs for utilities and consumers. Government support through production tax credits reduces wind energy costs for utilities and consumers but increases costs for taxpayers.

National trends

As of 2022, the United States has over 141 gigawatts (GW) of wind power capacity installed.

In 2010, new wind power capacity added was about half of the amount added in 2009. This was due to economic challenges, including the 2008 financial crisis and the Great Recession.

In 2013, new wind power capacity added was 92% less than in 2012. This was because the government delayed extending the Production Tax Credit (PTC), which helps support wind energy projects. A graph on the left shows the growth of wind power capacity in the U.S. based on data from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. In 2008, wind power capacity in the U.S. increased by 50% compared to the year before. The global average growth rate for wind power that year was 28.8%.

By 2014, wind power in the U.S. became cheaper to produce because of taller wind turbines with longer blades. These turbines can capture stronger winds at higher altitudes. In Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, wind power from turbines 300 to 400 feet (90 to 120 meters) above the ground became as affordable as power from coal. In some cases, wind power cost about 4 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Utilities began using more wind energy because it was their cheapest option. In 2014, the average price of wind power dropped to 2.5 cents per kWh.

The capacity factor is a measure of how much power a wind turbine actually produces compared to its maximum possible output. In the U.S., the average capacity factor for wind power increased from 31.7% in 2008 to 32.3% in 2013.

In 2023, wind power production in the U.S. decreased by 2% despite an increase of 6.2 gigawatts (GW) in total wind power capacity. This drop was mainly due to weaker-than-usual winds in the Midwest. This was the first decline in wind power production in 25 years and marked the lowest capacity factor in eight years at 33.5%. The decline shows the challenges of relying on wind energy, which depends on weather conditions like the El Niño phenomenon, which can reduce wind speeds.

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the lower 48 states of the U.S. have the potential to generate 10,459 gigawatts (GW) of wind power on land. This potential could produce 37 petawatt-hours (PW·h) of electricity each year, which is nine times the total electricity used in the U.S. The U.S. also has significant wind resources in Alaska and Hawaii.

In addition to onshore wind power, the U.S. has large offshore wind power potential. A 2010 report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimated that the U.S. has 4,150 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind power potential. This is four times the total electricity capacity generated in the U.S. in 2008 from all energy sources combined. Some experts believe that offshore wind farms along the East Coast could provide power for the entire region.

A 2008 report by the U.S. Department of Energy titled "20% Wind Energy by 2030" suggested that wind power could supply 20% of the U.S.’s electricity needs by 2030. This would include 4% of the nation’s electricity coming from offshore wind power. To achieve this goal, improvements in cost, performance, and reliability are needed. A 2011 report by researchers from universities, industry, and government stated that reaching 20% wind energy would require about 305 gigawatts (GW) of wind power capacity. This would mean adding 16 gigawatts (GW) of wind power each year after 2018, or an average increase of 14.6% per year. Improvements to power transmission lines would also be necessary. Analysts estimated that about 25 gigawatts (GW) of new wind power would be added in the U.S. between 2016 and 2018, depending on policies like the Clean Power Plan and PTC extensions. After the PTC expired in 2021, wind power growth is expected to be about 5 gigawatts (GW) per year.

Wind power by state

In 2019, wind power provided 10% or more of the electricity generated in fourteen U.S. states: Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Texas. Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Kansas each had more than 20% of their electricity from wind. Twenty states now have more than 5% of their electricity from wind. In 2020, Iowa became the first state in the nation to generate 50% of its electricity from wind power, as predicted in 2015.

The five states with the most wind power capacity at the end of 2020 were:

• Texas (33,133 MW)
• Iowa (11,660 MW)
• Oklahoma (9,048 MW)
• Kansas (7,016 MW)
• Illinois (6,409 MW)

The top five states by percentage of electricity from wind in 2020 were:

• Iowa (57.5%)
• Kansas (43.3%)
• Oklahoma (35.4%)
• South Dakota (32.9%)
• North Dakota (30.8%)

In July 2008, Texas approved a $4.93 billion plan to expand its electric grid to bring wind energy from western areas of the state to major cities. Companies that build power lines will get their money back from fees estimated at $4 per month for residential customers. A lack of power lines forced wind turbines to be shut down at times, reducing wind power generation in Texas by 17% in 2009. By 2011, Texas had become the first state to surpass the 10,000 MW mark.

In 2016, the Los Vientos Wind Farm became Texas's most powerful wind farm with a total capacity of 912 MW. It is located in two counties in South Texas. The Roscoe Wind Farm, with 627 wind turbines and a total capacity of 781.5 MW, is located about 200 miles west of Fort Worth in an area covering parts of four counties. The Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center is third with 735.5 MW. By 2016, Texas surpassed the 20,000 MW mark by adding over 1,800 MW of capacity in 2016 alone, including Los Vientos.

As of February 2021, more than 57% of the electricity generated in Iowa comes from wind power. Iowa had over 10,950 MW of generation capacity at the end of 2020, with over 1,500 MW planned for the near future. In 2020, wind power in Iowa produced over 34 million megawatt-hours of electricity. Since 1983, when Iowa adopted a renewable energy standard, the wind power industry has generated over $19 billion in investment. The second concrete wind turbine tower built in the U.S., and the tallest at the time (377 feet), is in Adams County. It was completed in the spring of 2016.

In 2018, Invenergy announced plans to build two wind farms in Iowa. Each farm will generate 200 MW. Construction is planned to begin in early 2019.

Oklahoma has one of the best wind resources in the United States. Bergey Windpower, a leading manufacturer of small wind turbines, is located in Oklahoma. Programs for careers in the wind power industry are offered at tech schools, community colleges, and universities in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative supports the development of wind power in the state.

In 2012, Kansas completed many wind projects, making it one of the fastest-growing wind energy markets. By the end of 2014, Kansas had a total capacity of 2,967 MW. Kansas has high potential for wind power, second only to Texas. Recent estimates suggest Kansas could generate 950 gigawatts of wind power capacity and 3,900 terawatt-hours of electricity each year, more than all electricity from coal, natural gas, and nuclear combined in the United States in 2011.

As of the end of 2011, wind energy supplied about 5% of California's total electricity needs, or enough to power more than 400,000 homes. The amount of electricity produced from wind varies daily. In 2011, 921.3 MW of wind power was installed. Most of this occurred in the Tehachapi area of Kern County, with other projects in Solano, Contra Costa, and Riverside counties. After 2014, California ranked second nationwide in wind power capacity, with 5,917 MW. In 2020, wind power accounted for 7.2% of the total electricity generated in California.

Large parts of California's wind power are located in three main areas: Altamont Pass Wind Farm (east of San Francisco), Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm (southeast of Bakersfield), and San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm (near Palm Springs, east of Los Angeles). The new Alta Wind Energy Center is also located in the Tehachapi Pass region.

Wind power in California has been supported by a renewable portfolio standard passed in 2007 and strengthened in 2009. This law requires electric companies to use 10% renewable energy by 2010 and 25% by 2025. Illinois has the potential to install up to an estimated 249,882 MW of wind power capacity at a height of 80 meters.

Commercialization of wind power

Since 2005, many top turbine companies have started building factories in the United States. In 2007, seven of the ten largest global turbine makers—Vestas, GE Energy, Gamesa, Suzlon, Siemens, Acciona, and Nordex—had factories in the U.S. Another company, REpower, also made wind turbines for use in the United States.

In 2008, companies announced plans to build 30 new factories. The wind industry expects more U.S. factories to open in the future. Since January 2007, 70 factories have started production, expanded, or been announced.

By April 2009, over 100 companies made parts for wind turbines, such as towers, blades, and gears. Many companies that once made other products changed their factories to make wind parts. These factories are in 40 states, from the Southeast to the Great Plains and the Pacific Northwest.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) works with six major turbine makers to help the United States reach 20% wind power by 2030. The DOE signed an agreement with GE Energy, Siemens, Vestas, Clipper Windpower, Suzlon, and Gamesa. Under this agreement, the DOE and these companies will share information about turbine reliability, wind farm locations, turbine standards, manufacturing improvements, and training for workers.

In 2014, GE had 60% of the U.S. turbine market, Siemens had 26%, and Vestas had 12%. Together, these three companies had 98% of the market. Most new turbines were designed to work in areas with low wind speeds. Companies compete to sell turbines, which has helped lower prices.

The DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is working on wind projects, including a new blade testing facility in Texas. This facility can test blades up to 70 meters long. It will be built through a partnership between NREL, the DOE, and the University of Houston. The facility is expected to cost $12–$15 million and finish by 2010. It will work with a similar facility being built in Massachusetts.

NREL also signed agreements with Siemens and First Wind. Siemens is building a research center in Boulder, Colorado, and will test a wind turbine at NREL’s National Wind Technology Center. First Wind owns a wind farm in Hawaii and will let NREL use its site to study new wind energy technologies.

In 2010, the DOE gave $60 million to study how to improve power transmission. Since 2006, the DOE has been required to report on power transmission issues every three years.

U.S. policy has given wind energy producers a tax credit of $15 per megawatt-hour (in 1995 dollars) for the first 10 years of operation. By 2015, the credit was $23 per megawatt-hour. About half of the states require a certain amount of electricity to come from renewable sources, which has helped wind energy grow.

When Congress stops the tax credit, wind development slows. When the credit is renewed, development grows. The tax credit ended in 2012, causing wind projects to nearly stop. A short-term one-year credit was created in 2013 for projects started by 2013 and finished by 2014. The tax credit was first created in 1992. When it ended, wind development dropped by 93%, 73%, and 77% in the following years.

In 2013, wind energy got the most federal support, with $5.936 billion in subsidies. Most of these funds came from ARRA programs. These numbers do not include support from state or local governments.

Wind power in the U.S. is mainly supported by a tax credit that pays producers based on the electricity they generate. This tax credit was extended for one year on January 1, 2013.

In late 2015, the tax credit was extended for five years, decreasing from 30% to 10% by 2022.

In 2014, the average price for wind power agreements was $23.50 per megawatt-hour. Operating costs were estimated at $10 per megawatt-hour.

Farmers and ranchers in places like Iowa and Colorado compete for wind farm locations. In 2007, farmers often received $3,000–$5,000 yearly in payments for allowing wind turbines on their land.

Wind farms can cause environmental concerns, such as noise and visual impacts. Some communities support renewable energy but may oppose wind farms due to these issues.

Studies show that involving local people in wind farm planning can improve community support. Some wind farms abroad, like the Ten Mile Lagoon Wind Farm, have become tourist attractions.

People who oppose wind farms sometimes claim that wind farms lower property values, hurt tourism, increase traffic, or create economic inequality. While research has not found proof of these claims, the belief in them can affect public support for wind energy.

Offshore wind power

Offshore wind energy development is more expensive than onshore projects. Many projects are being built, and some are close to completion. The United States has large offshore wind energy resources because of strong, steady winds along its long coastline.

A 2011 report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) called Large-Scale Offshore Wind Power in the United States examined the current state of offshore wind energy. The report said that developing offshore wind resources could help the country get 20% of its electricity from wind by 2030 and support manufacturing jobs. Offshore wind could provide 54 gigawatts of electricity to the national grid, improving energy security. It could also create about $200 billion in new economic activity and thousands of permanent jobs. The report concluded that offshore wind energy could play a key role in the United States' future energy needs.

Some coastal residents oppose offshore wind farms because they worry about harm to marine life, the environment, power costs, and activities like fishing and boating. Others believe offshore wind farms could lower power costs, improve air quality, and create jobs. Studies show that after construction, the bases of offshore wind turbines can act as artificial reefs, helping fish and shellfish populations grow. Placing turbines far from shore can reduce impacts on fishing and recreation through careful planning.

In June 2009, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior issued five exploratory leases for wind power production off the coasts of New Jersey and Delaware. These leases allow data collection, including building meteorological towers 6 to 18 miles (29 km) from shore. In 2011, officials announced a plan to develop 10 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2020 and 54 gigawatts by 2030. In 2021, the Biden Administration set a goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030. By early 2024, U.S. offshore wind capacity had grown from 42 megawatts to 242 megawatts.

Rhode Island and Massachusetts officials selected Deepwater Wind to build a $1.5-billion wind farm off Block Island. The project, with 100 turbines, could produce 1.3 terawatt-hours of electricity annually—15% of Rhode Island's total electricity use. In 2009, Deepwater signed a contract to sell power from a smaller 30-megawatt wind farm off Block Island at a price of 24.4 cents per kilowatt-hour. Construction began in 2015 and finished in 2016, making it the first U.S. offshore wind farm.

Cape Wind started in 2002 but was stopped due to opposition. The floating VolturnUS project operated near Castine, Maine, from 2013 to 2014. Maine Aqua Ventus plans to install an 11-megawatt floating turbine off Monhegan Island by 2023.

Construction began on the 804-megawatt Vineyard Wind project in November 2021 after approval delays. Power from the first turbine was sent to the ISO New England grid in January 2024. Another project, SouthCoast Wind, is also being developed.

In 2007, New Jersey funded a $4.4-million study to assess the ecological impact of offshore wind farms. The study, completed in 2010, found that offshore wind development would have little effect on the environment.

In 2008, federal rules expanded the area where offshore wind farms can be built. Previously, projects were limited to within 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) of shore. Now, they can be built up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) offshore. The deeper waters off the U.S. coast require different turbine designs than those used in Europe.

Ocean Wind is a proposed 1100-megawatt offshore wind farm 15 miles (24 km) off Atlantic City, New Jersey. If built, it would be the largest in the U.S. However, in 2020, New Jersey officials paused the project due to concerns about its economic benefits and potential harm to the fishing industry.

Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) is a pilot project 27 miles (43 km) off Virginia Beach. The two-turbine, 12-megawatt project, completed in 2020, is the second utility-scale offshore wind farm in the U.S. It was developed by Dominion Energy and Ørsted US Offshore Wind.

The Great Lakes have potential for 160 gigawatts of energy from fixed-bottom turbines and 415 gigawatts from floating systems. Challenges include the difficulty of transporting large equipment through the St. Lawrence Seaway, Welland Canal, or Soo Locks. Special vessels and ports would need to be built along the Great Lakes to support wind farm construction. Freezing ice is another challenge, as wind farms have not been built in freshwater before. A planned 6-turbine project on Lake Erie, called Icebreaker, was paused in December 2023.

Wind energy meteorology

Winds in the Central Plains region of the U.S. change often, both over short times (minutes) and long times (days). Changes in wind speed cause changes in the power produced by wind farms, which makes it harder to include wind power in the overall power grid. Wind turbines are powered by boundary layer winds, which are the winds near Earth's surface, about 300 feet high. These boundary layer winds are influenced by winds in the higher atmosphere and become uneven because of interactions with surface features like trees, hills, and buildings. Short-term or frequent changes are caused by this uneven movement in the boundary layer.

Long-term changes are caused by the movement of temporary air patterns in the atmosphere, which last several days. These large-scale air patterns affect wind in the Central U.S., making the power output from wind farms in the region somewhat similar and not completely different. When many wind farms are spread across a large area, they reduce short-term changes in power output, making the variation in power production about 45% smaller. The connection between wind farms is strongest during summer and weakest during winter.

Environmental impacts and regulations

The US federal government has the authority to stop bird and bat deaths caused by wind turbines under the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The 2009 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act allowed the Interior Department to issue permits for "non-purposeful take" in situations where eagle deaths could not be avoided. However, by December 2013, no permits had been given to wind energy developers. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service created voluntary guidelines to help wind turbine designers and planners reduce bird and bat deaths.

In 2013, the Obama administration faced criticism for treating wind energy companies differently than oil companies and power line owners under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The administration did not share the number of raptor deaths reported by wind companies, claiming it would reveal trade secrets. It also told federal law enforcement agents not to pursue bird-death cases against wind companies without approval from Washington. This policy was seen as a way to support renewable energy despite environmental concerns.

In November 2013, the federal government secured the first criminal conviction against a wind power company for killing protected birds. Duke Energy pleaded guilty and was fined $1 million for the deaths of 160 birds, including 14 golden eagles, at two wind farms in Wyoming. The Justice Department said Duke had placed turbines in areas where bird deaths were likely. Duke noted that it had reported the deaths itself and that guidelines to reduce bird deaths had not existed when the turbines were built. After being charged, Duke installed a radar system costing $600,000 yearly to stop turbines when large birds approached. The company said no golden eagle deaths had occurred in over a year since the system was used.

In December 2013, the US Fish and Wildlife Service announced it would issue 30-year permits to wind energy projects to allow eagle deaths. Previously, permits had been available for only 5 years, but none had been given to wind projects. Under the new permits, wind developers must report eagle deaths, and permits would be reviewed every 5 years. The change aimed to reduce uncertainty about legal rules for wind energy investments. The government said no environmental review was needed because the change was administrative. The American Wind Energy Association supported the rule, noting wind power causes less than 2% of human-caused eagle deaths. Conservation groups, including the American Bird Conservancy and others, opposed the 30-year permit extension.

Over 30,000 wind turbine locations are in federally protected bird habitats. Nearly 24,000 are in the migratory path of the whooping crane, and about 3,000 are in the breeding areas of the endangered greater sage-grouse. Dr. Michael Hutchins of the American Bird Conservancy said wind turbines threaten birds and that the current permitting process fails to solve the problem. Concerns about bird deaths led the American Bird Conservancy and 70 other groups to ask the US Department of the Interior to create a National Programmatic Wind Environmental Impact Statement. This plan would identify areas suitable for wind energy and areas to avoid. These efforts did not succeed. Tom Vinson of the American Wind Energy Association said estimates of bird deaths are unclear and questioned the accuracy of groups like the American Bird Conservancy in predicting future deaths.

The risk of birds colliding with wind turbines depends on turbine height and tower type. Bird deaths increase when turbine heights reach 475 to 639 feet. This is dangerous because blades at higher altitudes overlap with the flight height of birds that migrate at night.

A 2025 review showed that wind energy developments have many environmental, social, technical, and economic effects. It stressed the need for tools that address issues like loss of wildlife, noise, and community support.

All offshore wind projects require federal or state approval and a lease because offshore land is government property. Since the early 2000s, offshore wind regulation has changed hands among federal agencies. Before 2005, the US Army Corps of Engineers handled permits. In 2005, the Minerals Management Service in the Department of the Interior took over, managing permits on federal waters like the Outer Continental Shelf. It evaluated economic and environmental impacts and worked with agencies to approve permits. In 2010, the Minerals Management Service split into three agencies, with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management now responsible for leasing, permitting, monitoring, and regulating offshore wind energy.

Harassing any marine mammal in US waters breaks the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Offshore wind developers must apply for a letter of authorization or Incidental Harassment Authorization, including details about species at risk, steps to reduce harm, and monitoring plans. Offshore wind projects must also follow rules in the Federally approved State coastal management plan under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to protect coastal resources.