American Wind Projects

The U.S. wind industry is on its way to charting another record-shattering year of
growth. That capacity will generate over 60 billion kWh of electricity in 2009,
enough to serve over 5.5 million American homes and eliminating the burning of

* 30.4 million short tons of coal (enough to fill two 1,000-mile-long coal trains),
* 91 million barrels of oil per year, or
* 560 Bcf of natural gas (about 9% of the natural gas used for electricity generation)

Hull, Massachusetts – Offshore Wind Turbines
This resort town, population 11,000, plans to moor four 260-foot-tall turbines a
mile and a half offshore, at a total cost of $40 million. Along with Hull’s two
existing onshore turbines, wind power could generate 14 megawatts, enough to supply
energy to the entire community.

Mojave Desert, California – Solar Farms
This fall, construction begins on a five-square-mile stretch of heliostats, small
moveable mirrors that follow the sun’s rays and reflect them onto a boiler on top
of a central tower. The sunlight heats water inside the boiler’s pipes to temperatures
above 1,000°F, creating steam that generates electricity in a nearby turbine. By 2011,
the plant will produce its first 100 megawatts.

Pembrokeshire, Wales – Wave Power
As part of the U.K.’s goal of running on 10 percent renewable energy by 2010, this
summer Wales will install a Wave Dragon converter, the world’s largest wave-energy
generator. The 980-foot-long device captures waves in basins. When the water rushes
back into the sea, it spins turbines, producing seven megawatts of electricity.