Renewable Energy Fact Sheet

A March 2006 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute detailing the status of the U.S. wind energy industry, its resource potential, and the various federal funding and tax incentive programs available to support its growth.

• At the start of 2006, the U.S. wind industry had a total generating capacity of 9,149 MW. In 2005, the industry grew its capacity by 35 percent compared to 2004, installing nearly 2,500 MW of new equipment across 22 states, representing an investment of over $3 billion.
• The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) suggests that wind technology could provide 6 percent of U.S. electricity by 2020. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 600 GW of wind energy—enough for 20 percent of the U.S. power supply—is cost-effective at the wind plant busbar if natural gas prices exceed $4 per thousand cubic feet (mcf).
• State-level incentives include Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) in 25 states, two of which are voluntary, and Public Benefit Funds (PBF) in 16 states, which are projected to be worth $4 billion by 2017.
• Federal tax incentives include the Renewable Production Tax Credit (PTC) of 1.9¢/kWh for the first 10 years of operation, extended through December 31, 2007, though this is not available for small-scale or community wind. Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBS) provide a financing mechanism for public power producers and co-ops, with $800 million available, including a minimum of $300 million for electric cooperatives and a maximum of $500 million for governmental bodies.
• The USDA Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program (Sec. 9006) offers grants between $2,500 and $500,000 (up to 25 percent of project costs) and guaranteed loans up to $10 million (up to 50 percent of project costs). In 2005, the program allocated $11,251,373 to large wind turbine projects and $101,157 to small wind turbine projects.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2006). Renewable Energy Fact Sheet. https://www.eesi.org/files/wind_incentives_0506.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Renewable Energy Fact Sheet. 2006. https://www.eesi.org/files/wind_incentives_0506.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Renewable Energy Fact Sheet |date=March 2006 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/wind_incentives_0506.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2006renewable, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Renewable Energy Fact Sheet}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2006}, month = mar, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/wind_incentives_0506.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }