Wind energy is exploding nationwide, and Colorado is hoping to be a big part of the revolution. In 2015 the US wind industry had its third-best year in terms of new wind farms built. Across the nation, the industry installed almost 9,000 megawatts worth of wind turbines,reports Denver Business Journal.That’s a 77 percent increase over the previous year. Colorado installed wind turbines capable of generating 400 megawatts worth of renewable power. That brings the state’s total up to almost 3,000 megawatts.
Much of Colorado’s new energy came due to new wind farms in Kit Carson County and El Paso County. Currently, Colorado has almost 10,000 megawatts worth of future wind farms under construction. The industry is expected to continue booming, thanks to a five-year extension of the federal Production Tax Credit for wind power.
The tax credit is part of the new budget signed by President Obama.