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source: www.ewea.org/documents/
WF12-2004_eng.pdf

www.awea.org/pubs/factsheets/
WindPowerTodayFinal.pdf

www.canwea.ca/en/QuickFacts.html

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North America

The United States market has experienced a major revival, although it is still handicapped by lack of continuity in federal policies.

In a volatile power market, large utilities are increasingly looking to wind power as a source of low-priced, stable electricity:
  • there are now utility-scale wind power installations in 30 states, totalling 6,361 MW at the end of 2002. These generate enough electricity to serve more than 1.6 million average US households;


  • North Dakota alone could supply over 40% of the nation’s electricity. However, in the near term, only a small portion of that potential will likely be tapped. Less than 1% of the nation’s electricity is currently supplied by wind power.
Canada, with one of the largest wind resources in the world, is ready to expand well beyond its present level of 327 MW now that it has introduced a production tax credit similar to that operating in the US:
  • the country could reasonably meet 20% of its total energy needs with wind power;


  • Northern Quebec (Nunavik) alone has enough wind resources to produce 40% of Canada's electricity needs.
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