Renewable Energy Fact Sheet

As of early 2006, the U.S. wind industry had a generating capacity of 9,149 MW, with 2005 seeing a 35 percent growth in capacity. The document details various federal incentives, including the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBS), as well as state-level mechanisms like Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and Public Benefit Funds (PBF). It highlights the potential for wind energy to provide up to 20 percent of the U.S. power supply if natural gas prices remain above $4 per thousand cubic feet.

• At the start of 2006, the U.S. wind industry's total generating capacity was 9,149 MW. In 2005, the industry grew by 35 percent compared to 2004, installing nearly 2,500 MW of new equipment across 22 states, representing an investment of over $3 billion.
• Wind energy facilities in the U.S. are estimated to displace more than 15 million tons of carbon dioxide annually and produce electricity equivalent to the annual usage of 2.3 million average American households.
• 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 when 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 and financial incentives include the Production Tax Credit (PTC) of 1.9¢/kWh for the first 10 years of operation (extended through December 31, 2007), and $800 million in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBS) for public power systems and electric cooperatives.

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} }