First Quarter 2013 Letter from the Wind Program Director

This is an excerpt from the First Quarter 2013 edition of the Wind Program R&D Newsletter.

I write this letter to you during a very exciting time for the wind energy industry. As reported by AWEA earlier this year, 2012 proved to be another record-setting year for wind energy.

Not only did the industry install more than 13 gigawatts (GW) of capacity in the United States, bringing the total installed capacity to over 60 GW, but also for the first time, wind energy was the largest energy source installed, surpassing natural gas. This statistic, coupled with Congress' one year renewal of the production tax credit, should yield a strong 2013.

Additionally, President Obama has renewed his commitment to renewable energy in his most recent State of the Union address. Even in the midst of budget uncertainties, domestic, cost-effective clean energy production and manufacturing remain a priority for the administration, the Department of Energy, and the Wind Program.

Regards,

Jose Zayas