Wind Energy

America’s largest renewable electricity source. Onshore wind farms across the Great Plains and Texas, the emerging offshore wind industry along the Atlantic coast, turbine technology and manufacturing, transmission constraints, permitting challenges, and the role of wind in the evolving power grid.

Onshore Wind

Onshore wind is the largest source of renewable electricity in the U.S. with approximately 150 GW of installed capacity generating 11% of the nation’s power. Texas alone has over 40 GW — more than most countries. Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Illinois round out the top five states.

Modern onshore turbines have grown dramatically in size and output. Hub heights now reach 100+ meters with rotor diameters exceeding 170 meters, enabling capacity factors of 35-45% in prime locations. The Great Plains — from Texas to the Dakotas — offer some of the strongest onshore wind resources in the world.

Offshore Wind

The U.S. offshore wind industry is in its early stages with just 42 MW operational (Block Island, RI and Coastal Virginia), but the project pipeline exceeds 40 GW. The Biden administration set a target of 30 GW by 2030, though project cancellations and cost overruns have slowed progress.

Offshore wind offers higher and more consistent wind speeds than onshore, enabling capacity factors of 45-55%. Projects concentrate along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Virginia, near major population centers with high electricity prices. Key challenges include permitting (BOEM reviews), supply chain (specialized installation vessels), and transmission (subsea cables to shore).

Frequently Asked Questions

How does wind energy work?

Wind turbines convert kinetic energy from moving air into electricity. Blades capture wind force to spin a rotor connected to a generator. Modern turbines are massive — hub heights exceeding 100m with blade spans of 170m+. Output varies with wind speed, making wind an intermittent resource that requires grid flexibility.

What is the difference between onshore and offshore wind?

Onshore wind farms are built on land, primarily in the Great Plains and Texas. Offshore wind is built in ocean waters, typically 10-30 miles from shore. Offshore offers stronger, more consistent winds (45-55% vs 35-45% capacity factor) but costs 2-3x more due to marine construction, subsea cables, and specialized vessels.

Why is transmission important for wind?

The best wind resources are in the Great Plains, far from major demand centers on the coasts. Without new transmission lines, wind farms face curtailment — being told to reduce output because the grid can’t absorb the power. Building transmission lines takes 10-15 years, creating a persistent bottleneck.

What causes wind project delays?

Permitting (federal, state, local), transmission interconnection queues (3-5 year waits), supply chain constraints (turbine manufacturing lead times), community opposition (noise, visual impact, wildlife), and rising interest rates increasing financing costs.

Why does wind curtailment happen?

When wind farms produce more electricity than the local grid can transmit to demand centers, operators are told to reduce output. This wastes clean energy. ERCOT (Texas) curtails roughly 5-10% of potential wind generation due to transmission constraints. New transmission investment would reduce curtailment.

How important is offshore wind?

Offshore wind could become transformative for the U.S. East Coast, where onshore wind resources are limited but electricity prices are high. The 40+ GW pipeline could serve millions of homes. However, cost overruns, supply chain challenges, and permitting delays have slowed progress significantly from original timelines.