Wind Power Blowing Harder

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GLOBAL WIND ELECTRICITY-GENERATING capacity rose 24% in 2005 to 59,100 megawatts. This represents a twelvefold increase from a decade ago. Wind is the world's fastest growing energy source, with an average annual growth rate of 29% percent over the last 10 years. In contrast, over the same time period, coal and natural gas use edged up 2.5% per year, nuclear power by 1.8%, and oil by 1.7%.

Europe continues to lead the world in total installed capacity, with more than 40,500 megawatts, or two-thirds of the global total. These wind installations supply nearly three percent of Europe's electricity and produce enough power to meet the needs of more than 40,000,000 people. The European Wind Energy Association has set a target to satisfy 23% of European electricity needs with wind by 2030. EWEA also notes that Europe has enough wind resources to meet the electricity demands of all of its countries. …