Wind Energy Consumption Rises

According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), electricity capacity increased 40 percent in the third quarter this year compared with 2011.

"Wind energy jumped significantly because many new wind farms came online," said AJ Simon, an LLNL energy systems analysts. "This is the result of sustained investment in wind power."

But the growth could be deterred because Congress has yet to decide whether it will extend a 2.2-cent per kilowatt-hour tax credit for wind power production. The credit is scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2012.

While wind energy consumption rises, overall energy consumption dropped 7 percent to 97.3 quadrillion BTU, according to the LLNL. The lab credited that to a shift to more energy-efficient transportation and residential technologies.

Source: The Hill blog