However, annual growth was down from the more than 8GW added in 2016.
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) released its 2017 annual report at a ceremony in New Mexico’s state capitol building in Santa Fe.
"New Mexico added wind power capacity at a faster rate than any other state last year," the trade association said.
Some 6.3% of the electricity generated in the US is from wind, according to AWEA. And the US is on track to have 10% of its electricity from wind by 2020, said the association's CEO, Tom Kiernan.
Wind power, the largest source of US renewable electricity generating capacity, now supplies more than 30% of the electricity in four states: Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.
For an hour in 2017, wind provided more than 50% of the electricity in Texas, said AWEA. Texas is the US’s second most populous state.
And briefly, also in 2017, wind provided more than 65% of the electricity in Colorado, said Kiernan.
"Wind energy is reliably and affordably contributing to the grid," he said.
