The report, United States renewable energy attractiveness indices, shows 13.1GW of wind was added to the US grid last year.
US wind installations topped 60GW of total installed capacity after 13GW was added in 2012, surpassing the previous record of 10GW installed in 2010.
A record setting Q4 saw 8.38GW installed as developers rushed to complete projects before the expiration of the production tax credit (PTC), which was ultimately extended.
The PTC was given a one-year extension as part of the fiscal cliff negotiations at the beginning of 2013. The London based firm predicts this will be a boon to the wind industry, particularly given recent drops in turbine costs. The extension included a provision that allows projects begun by the end of the year to qualify for the credit regardless of when they come online.
The top five states for new capacity in 2012 were Texas, California, Kansas, Oklahoma and Illinois. Ernst and Young’s long-term wind index shows Texas installed 1.83GW of capacity in 2012 bringing a cumulative total of 12.21GW.
