2008 was a good year for the wind power energy industry. World Watch-measured wind industry trends show a world-wide increase of some 27,051 megawatts, and wind power installations up by 29%.

Wind industry critics, take note! Broken down by countries, the US is now leading in total wind energy, ranking above Germany, a renewable energy thoroughbred. For Europe overall, wind is now its leading source of electric capacity, ahead of natural gas and coal! This is a breakthrough point for Europe.

There is more… China is set to surpass its wind energy target of 10,000 MW by 2012 and is now taking care of a third of global wind capacity.

Upward trends in green jobs are secured, with around 400,000 people now employed in the wind power energy industry. Lower prices for wind generator components, caused by the global economic recession, willl further accellerate these trends. Expansion in green investment, in part spurred by renewable energy incentives, make renewable energy an unstoppable snowball.

Sources:
World Watch Institute Vital Signs 2008