As indicated by the annual industry rankings of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) released in March, the U.S. wind industry easily broke records from in 2004 by installing more than 2,400 MW of new wind capacity in 22 states, increasing the U.S. fleet more than 35 percent and bringing total U.S. wind capacity at the end of the year to more than 9,000 MW.

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Xcel Energy is now the largest purchaser of wind energy in the United States. FPL Energy continues to be the nation’s single largest owner of wind capacity. And California continues to lead all states in the total amount of wind capacity. That ranking, held by California since electricity-producing wind turbines were first installed there in 1981, is likely to be passed by Texas, poised to assume the No. 1 spot before the year is out.