The Obama Administration has set the goals of generating 25% of our energy from renewable energy sources.  Currently, wind energy makes up about 1% of of U.S. energy supply, powering 4.5 million homes.  According to the American Wind Energy Association, more than twice the energy generated today could be powered by wind — 10,777 kWh annually. 

Currently, the states with the most wind power installed are not the states with the most wind power potential. 

States with most wind energy installed, by capacity (MW):

The top 20 States for wind power, as measured by annual energy potential in billions of kWhs, factoring in environmental land use exclusions for wind class of 3 and higher.

1. North Dakota – 1,21
2. Texas - 1,190
3. Kansas – 1.070
4. South Dakota – 1,030
5. Montana - 1,020
6. Nebraska - 868
7. Wyoming - 747
8. Oklahoma - 725
9. Minnesota - 657
10. Iowa - 551
11. Colorado – 481
12. New Mexico – 435
13. Idaho – 73
14. Michigan – 65
15. New York – 62
16. Illinois – 61
17. California – 59
18. Wisconsin – 58
19. Maine – 56
20. Missouri – 52

Source: An Assessment of Availability Windy Land Area and Wind Energy Potential in the Contiguous United States, Pacific Northwest Laboratory 1991.

U.S. Department of Energy's United States — 50-Meter Wind Resource Map

Click here to zoom in on the above map and click on individual states to view their wind potential.

Some States have set their own renewable energy goals.  With Texas leading the way in wind energy generation, other states are working to catch up.  Michigan has set the goal of 10% of its utility power to come from renewable sources, such as wind, by 2015.  Early this year, DTE Energy signed an agreement with Michigan-based Hertiage Sustainable Energy to construct 7 large scale wind turbines in Cadillac, MI.  The wind turbines will produce enough energy to power 2,000 homes.

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