Wind Power: Present Realities and Future Possibilities [Point of View]

In the fall of 2008, the U.S. surpassed 20 000 MW of installed wind power capacity. We have installed as much wind capacity in the last two years as we did in the previous two decades. The U.S. Department of Energy released a report in the spring 2008 titled, "20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy's Contribution to US Electricity Supply." There is a certain sense of optimism and excitement associated with this technology that has not been seen in the electric power business for quite a while.