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Wind power has been the fastest growing energy technology in the world throughout the last decade. In 1999, almost $4 billion was invested in new wind turbines worldwide. Within a few years, that total is expected to double and then redouble as wind’s relative cost-effectiveness and clear environmental advantages continue to stoke the worldwide demand for the technology.
A decade ago, the United States produced almost four times as much wind-generated electricity as the rest of the countries in the world combined. The United States was the clear technology and market leader. But throughout the 1990s, Europe saw rapid growth in its wind energy markets, while the U.S. market for wind was virtually non-existent until 1998. Today, Europe has about four times as much wind capacity installed as does the United States, and Germany has surged into the lead as the world’s largest wind market. Out of the top ten wind turbine manufacturers in the world, nine are European, only one is a U.S.-based company.
How did this dramatic turnaround occur? How did differing policies in the United States and Europe contribute to this turn of events? What steps can policymakers take to ensure that U.S. companies are not shut out of this multi-billion dollar market?
The briefing featured the following expert speakers:
