small_scale_wind_factsheet_070512-c38bb2af388e3f9d.pdf

This July 2012 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes the technology, applications, and economic landscape of small-scale wind power in the United States. It details the differences between horizontal and vertical axis turbines, the shift toward grid-connected systems, and the role of federal and state incentives in driving market growth.

• Small wind turbines are designed for distributed generation, providing electricity for on-site use to reduce reliance on fossil-fuel plants and the electrical transmission grid. They typically have a generating capacity between 0.3 and 100 kW and require wind speeds of at least four meters per second (nine miles per hour) at the turbine's height to operate.
• The United States led the world in both small turbine manufacturing and installed capacity as of 2010. In 2011, domestic manufacturers reported sales of $115 million, with 54 percent of that revenue coming from exports, and the industry supported approximately 1,600 full-time jobs. The U.S. small wind cumulative capacity was 179 MW in 2010.
• There are two primary turbine designs: Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs) and Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs). HAWTs are more common due to superior efficiency and generation capabilities, typically sitting on towers 30 to 140 ft high. VAWTs can generate power from wind in any direction and have easier ground-level maintenance, but they generate less power and are more susceptible to high-wind damage.
• Small wind systems had an average cost of $5,800 per kilowatt of generating capacity in 2010, with a 10 kW residential system costing between $30,000 and $90,000. Payback periods vary from six to 30 years depending on costs and electricity prices.
• Federal incentives significantly impact the industry, notably the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which provides a 30 percent upfront credit and drove a 15 percent growth in sales in 2009. Other supports include the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which funded about 200 projects (5.8 MW) across 30 states in 2011, and the Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit, available through 2016. At the state level, California led the nation in both total installations and rebate-funded installations in 2010.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (n.d.). small_scale_wind_factsheet_070512-c38bb2af388e3f9d.pdf. https://www.eesi.org/files/small_scale_wind_factsheet_070512.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. small_scale_wind_factsheet_070512-c38bb2af388e3f9d.pdf. n.d. https://www.eesi.org/files/small_scale_wind_factsheet_070512.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=small_scale_wind_factsheet_070512-c38bb2af388e3f9d.pdf |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/small_scale_wind_factsheet_070512.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitutendsmallscalewindfactsheet070512c38bb2af388e3f9dpdf, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{small\_scale\_wind\_factsheet\_070512-c38bb2af388e3f9d.pdf}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/small_scale_wind_factsheet_070512.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }