How many wind turbines are installed in the U.S. each year?
The number of turbines installed in the U.S. each year varies based on a number of factors, but on average 3,000 turbines have been built in the U.S. each year since 2005.
Learn more:
Related Content
Can wind turbines harm wildlife?
How much wind energy does it take to power an average home?
Why isn't the turbine in my backyard included in the U.S. Wind Turbine Database?
How are wind turbine data collected?
How often is the U.S. Wind Turbine Database updated?
How many turbines are contained in the U.S. Wind Turbine Database?
Why is it important to know the locations of wind turbines?
U.S. Geological Survey energy and wildlife research annual report for 2018
USGS scientists provide scientific information and options that land and resource managers and private industries can use to make decisions regarding the development of energy resources while protecting the health of ecosystems. Studies focus on delivering information to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the impacts of energy infrastructure on fish and...
Khalil, Mona
Minor metals and renewable energy—Diversifying America’s energy sources
Solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine technologies are projected to make up an increasing proportion of electricity generation capacity in the United States in the coming decades. By 2050, they will account for 36 percent (or 566 gigawatts) of capacity compared with about 11 percent (or 118 gigawatts) in 2016 (fig. 1; EIA, 2017). There are...
Singerling, Sheryl A.; Nassar, Nedal T.
Onshore industrial wind turbine locations for the United States
This dataset provides industrial-scale onshore wind turbine locations in the United States, corresponding facility information, and turbine technical specifications. The database has wind turbine records that have been collected, digitized, locationally verified, and internally quality controlled. Turbines from the Federal Aviation Administration...
Diffendorfer, Jay E.; Compton, Roger; Kramer, Louisa; Ancona, Zach; Norton, Donna
Prioritizing avian species for their risk of population-level consequences from wind energy development
Recent growth in the wind energy industry has increased concerns about its impacts on wildlife populations. Direct impacts of wind energy include bird and bat collisions with turbines whereas indirect impacts include changes in wildlife habitat and behavior. Although many species may withstand these effects, species that are long-lived with low...
Beston, Julie A.; Diffendorfer, James E.; Loss, Scott; Johnson, Douglas H.
Preliminary methodology to assess the national and regional impact of U.S. wind energy development on birds and bats
The U.S. Geological Survey has developed a methodology to assess the impacts of wind energy development on wildlife; it is a probabilistic, quantitative assessment methodology that can communicate to decision makers and the public the magnitude of these effects on species populations. The methodology is currently applicable to birds and bats,...
Diffendorfer, James E.; Beston, Julie A.; Merrill, Matthew D.; Stanton, J.C.; Corum, M.D.; Loss, Scott R.; Thogmartin, Wayne E.; Johnson, Douglas H.; Erickson, Richard A.; Heist, Kevin W.
New USGS Analysis of Wind Turbine Upgrades Shows No Impact on Wildlife Mortality
CORVALLIS, ORE. – Reduction in wildlife mortality rates is sometimes cited as a potential benefit to the replacement of older, smaller turbines by larger, next generation turbines. In contrast, others have expressed concern that newer, larger turbines may actually increase bird and bat deaths.
Mapping the Nation's Wind Turbines
There are more than 57,000 wind turbines across the United States, and a new tool allows you to get up close and personal with each one!
U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Department of Energy Release Online Public Dataset and Viewer of U.S. Wind Turbine Locations and Characteristics
Today, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the American Wind Energy Association, released the United States Wind Turbine Database (USWTDB) and the USWTDB Viewer to access this new public dataset.
Raptor Interactions with Wind Energy: Case Studies from Around the World
Attempts to measure and mitigate the effects of wind turbines on wildlife have been an integral part of wind energy development.
Advancing Wind Energy and Avoiding Wildlife Conflicts
Our Nation works to advance renewable energy and to avoid conflicts with and conserve wildlife.
Wind turbine towering over trees
A wind turbine rising above Oʻahu trees forms part of a wind energy installation where USGS bat research is taking place.
U.S. Wind Turbine Database Viewer
Demo image of U.S. Wind Turbine Database viewer with inset of cell phone with viewer app.
Mapping the Nation's Wind Power: Using the U.S. Wind Turbine Database
Did you know there are more than 57,000 wind turbines in the United States? In this video, we'll show you how you can get to know each and every one of them with our U.S. Wind Turbine Database and viewer, which we've assembled in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the American Wind Energy Association.
Wind turbines at the Altamont Pass Wind Farm
The Altamont Pass Wind Far is located in northern California.
Data collection at wind energy facility
A field scientist collecting fatality data at a wind energy facility.
Power County Wind Farm
Power County Wind Farm
Sandhill Cranes Near Wind Turbines
Sandhill Cranes fly in close proximity to wind turbines near Horicon National Wildlife Refuge in east-central Wisconsin, but to date no crane mortality has been associated with turbines in this area.
Wind turbine on farm land next to a dilapidated barn
Wind turbine next to a dilapidated barn
Wind Turbine
Most modern wind turbines are taller than a 30-story building. Field biologist Apple Snider stands at the base of a turbine in New York for scale.
Wind Turbine Blade
This photo shows one of the three 135-ft blades of a turbine before installation. Although the blades of wind turbines appear to move quite slowly to the human eye, blade tips often move at speeds faster than 100 mph.
Wind turbines above San Gorgonio Pass, Calif.
Wind turbines above San Gorgonio Pass, Calif.