The Presidential Advanced Energy Initiative (AEI) states that, "areas with good wind resources have the potential to supply up to 20% of the electricity consumption of the United States." To that end, the U.S. DOE Wind Energy Program collaborates with federal, state, industry and stakeholder organizations to lead wind energy technology R&D efforts, hoping to reach that 20% by 2030[1]. Technology improvements to reach that goal are relatively straightforward: taller towers, bigger rotors, and better design and manufacturing.[2]
The AWEA produced a roadmap for the U.S. Small Wind Turbine Industry in 2002 (Small Wind is also referred to as Distributed Wind Energy). This document estimates that by 2020, small wind turbines could contribute 3%, or 50,000 MW, to the nation’s electric supply. To reach that goal, the following actions must be taken (please bear in mind that the near-term on the following table has passed, we are currently in the mid-term time-frame).
