The US state of Colorado has vast wind energy resources and the installed electricity capacity and generation from wind power in Colorado has been growing significantly in recent years. The growth has been sustained due to a combination of falling costs (69% reduction from 2009 to 2018), continuing federal incentives (similar to those supporting most other resource development), and the state's aggressive renewable portfolio standard that requires 30% of the state's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020.[1][2]
Wind power accounted for 14.2% of total electricity generated in Colorado during 2015.[3] Its share increased to more than 17% for years 2016 thru 2018.[4] As of the end of 2018, more than three times as much power is produced by wind within the state as is produced from all other renewable sources combined.[5]
The cities of Brighton, and Windsor, Colorado are home to three Vestas manufacturing facilities. Overall, it is estimated that each wind turbine deployed supports about 30 jobs over the course of its lifetime through its manufacturing, supply chain, construction, and operation.[6]
- ^ Eber, Kevin and Ernie Tucker (March 26, 2010). "Colorado Boosts its RPS to 30% by 2020". Renewable Energy World. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
- ^ Madeline Gould (November 9, 2018). "University of Texas Study Highlights Wind's Low Cost". American Wind Energy Association.
- ^ "U.S. number one in the world in wind energy production". American Wind Energy Association. February 29, 2016.
- ^ "Colorado Wind Energy". U.S. Wind Energy State Facts. American Wind Energy Association. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
eia-edcwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cathy Proctor (January 2, 2018). "Vestas sets wind turbine sales record, plans to keep Colorado plants busy". Denver Business Journal.