How Many Homes Do Wind Turbines Power In The United States?
Wind power has seen tremendous growth in the United States over the past few decades. As of 2021, the U.S. had over 122 gigawatts (GW) of installed wind power capacity, enough to power over 42 million average homes. This accounts for over 9% of total U.S. electricity generation. The U.S. is second only to China in total installed wind power capacity.
This growth has been driven by advancements in wind turbine technology. Modern wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy through a rotor with blades connected to a generator. As wind blows past the blades, the rotor spins, which then spins magnets within the generator to induce a current. A single modern wind turbine can generate anywhere from 1 to 5+ megawatts of power.
Total wind power capacity
As of December 2022, the total installed wind power capacity in the United States was 151.4 gigawatts (GW), up from 119 GW at the end of 2020. This represents a 27% increase over the past two years (Utility-Scale Wind Energy – WINDExchange). Wind power capacity has grown rapidly in the past decade, from just 25 GW in 2009. The amount of new capacity installed each year reached a peak of 13.3 GW in 2012 but declined after that as renewable energy tax credits were scheduled to expire. Installations rebounded starting in 2020 with new long-term federal tax incentives for wind projects.
Number of wind turbines
There are over 60,000 wind turbines installed across 41 states in the United States as of 2021, per the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) [1]. Texas has the most wind turbines of any state with over 12,750 turbines installed as of 2017 [2]. The average size and capacity of wind turbines in the U.S. has increased dramatically over the past 30 years. In the 1980s, the average turbine size was around 30-50 kW. By 2021, the average size reached 2.75 MW, with many new turbines over 4 MW in capacity [3].
Wind Energy Generation
Wind power has become an increasingly important source of renewable energy in the United States. In 2020, wind turbines in the U.S. generated around 338 terawatt-hours of electricity. This accounts for about 8.4% of all electricity generation in the country.
To put this in perspective, one terawatt-hour of electricity is enough to power nearly 90,000 U.S. homes for a year. So the 338 terawatt-hours from wind in 2020 was enough to supply electricity to over 30 million homes. Wind power serves as a clean and reliable energy source that continues to reduce the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels.
Homes Powered by Wind
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, wind energy could potentially provide enough electricity to power the equivalent of over 43 million American homes annually.1 The DOE based this estimate on data showing 114 gigawatts of installed wind capacity in the United States in 2021. At average capacity factors, this could generate around 353 terawatt-hours of electricity per year. With the average U.S. home using about 10,600 kWh annually, 353 TWh would be enough to meet the needs of over 43 million homes.
This is a substantial portion of the approximately 128 million households in the country. Wind energy generates more electricity than solar and is second only to natural gas for renewable power generation. The growth of wind power demonstrates the increasing viability of renewable energy sources for meeting electricity demand in the U.S.
Environmental benefits
Wind energy provides significant environmental benefits compared to conventional power plants. According to a 2017 study, wind power in the United States avoids up to 189 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. This is equivalent to taking 41 million cars off the road each year. Wind turbines produce no air pollution or greenhouse gas emissions while operating, unlike fossil fuel power plants which contribute heavily to air pollution.
In addition to avoiding carbon emissions, expanded use of wind energy reduces a variety of other environmental impacts. Wind power consumes no water for cooling unlike fossil fuel and nuclear power plants which withdraw billions of gallons of water. Wind projects also preserve land since the footprint taken up by turbines is relatively small. Although wind turbines can pose a risk for birds and bats through collisions, careful site selection and improved turbine designs are greatly reducing wildlife impacts.
Economic Impacts
The wind energy industry has had a significant positive economic impact in the United States. As of 2021, there were over 120,000 Americans employed in wind-related jobs across all 50 states. Many of these jobs are in rural areas, providing an economic boost to communities that need it.
The wind industry generates billions in revenue each year. Wind project owners make money by selling the electricity generated, and pay royalties to landowners who allow turbines to be built on their property. This provides farmers and ranchers with a stable income stream. Property taxes paid by wind projects also contribute to local government budgets for roads, schools and other services.
In total, the wind industry pays over $1 billion annually in state and local taxes. This revenue helps fund essential community needs. The industry also pays federal income taxes and contributes to GDP growth.
Importantly, wind power has become cost competitive with traditional energy sources like coal and natural gas. Unsubsidized wind contracts are now being signed for around 2-4 cents per kilowatt-hour, which is on par or below the operating cost of fossil fuel plants. As technology improves, wind is expected to become even more cost effective over time.
Future outlook
The future outlook for wind power capacity and generation in the United States is promising. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s report “Wind Vision: A New Era for Wind Power in the United States,” wind power capacity could reach 10% of the nation’s electricity demand by 2020, 20% by 2030, and 35% by 2050 (https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2015/03/f20/wv_executive_summary_overview_and_key_chapter_findings.pdf). This represents over 10 times the current installed wind power capacity. The DOE projects installed wind capacity to reach 113 GW by 2020, 224 GW by 2030, and 404 GW by 2050.
New turbine technology developments will support increased wind generation. Larger and more efficient turbines, like multi-megawatt offshore wind turbines, will enable previously untapped wind resources. Advanced tower and control system designs will allow turbines to better capture wind energy. Continued cost reductions will make wind power competitive with conventional generation. With supportive policies and technological innovations, wind has the potential to be a major contributor to America’s energy portfolio.
Challenges
Wind power faces several key challenges (Advantages and Challenges of Wind Energy, energy.gov):
Grid integration can be an issue, as the variability of wind power can pose difficulties for matching supply with demand. Significant infrastructure upgrades may be needed to accommodate large amounts of wind power on the grid.
Wind farms require large areas of land, which can raise concerns over land use and permitting. Siting wind farms in remote locations often necessitates building new transmission lines.
Public opposition and “not in my backyard” attitudes sometimes arise regarding wind power projects, especially related to visual impacts and noise. Engaging communities early in the planning process can help address these concerns.
Other challenges include the intermittent nature of wind requiring backup power sources, wildlife impacts from turbines, and costs being higher than conventional power in some instances.
Conclusion
In summary, wind power capacity in the United States has grown rapidly over the past decade to over 100 GW, with over 60,000 wind turbines installed across 41 states. This expansion of wind energy is powering the equivalent of over 30 million American homes. Wind power delivers clean, emissions-free electricity while creating jobs and local economic benefits. Looking ahead, wind energy is poised for continued growth as costs continue to fall and more states establish renewable portfolio standards. However, challenges remain around siting, permitting, transmission infrastructure, and inconsistent federal policy support. Overall, the growth of wind power serves as an important pillar in the transition to a carbon-free energy system and in meeting the country’s climate goals.
The expansion of wind energy is vital for the United States to achieve a 100% clean electricity system and make progress towards a net zero emissions economy. As one of the most scalable and cost-competitive zero-carbon resources available today, growing wind power will play a central role in reducing reliance on fossil fuels while creating family-sustaining jobs. Continued wind energy growth provides environmental justice benefits through cleaner air and supports grid reliability with zero-fuel-cost electricity. While overcoming remaining obstacles, integrating more wind onto the power system supports renewable energy targets and demonstrates US commitment to climate leadership and a just, equitable clean energy transition.
