The Power of Wind: Current Legal Issues in Siting for Wind Power

In a time of heightened awareness of global warming and the need for renewable energy, wind energy has taken off as the fastest growing source of electricity in the United States. In 2008, the wind industry added record-breaking wind power capacity by installing over 8,000 megawatts of electricity, accounting for close to 42 percent of new power-producing capacity installed that year. This growth has brought the total U.S. wind energy capacity to over 25,000 megawatts, up from only 6,740 megawatts in 2004, launching the United States ahead of Germany as the world leader in wind electricity generation. American wind farms currently produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of nearly seven million homes. While Texas leads the nation with the most new wind power, wind development is occurring in many regions throughout the country, with wind projects currently in 35 states.