Keys to Achieving 20 Percent Wind by 2030

Abstract

As the leading source of carbon-free electricity generation that is rapidly deployable today, wind power can play a vital role in the critical early years of an effort to combat global warming and deliver stable electricity prices, promote our nation’s energy security, dramatically reduce water use, and foster jobs and economic growth. A groundbreaking technical report released by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in May examined the feasibility of wind providing 20% of U.S. electricity supply by 2030. The report was a collaborative effort with many contributors including DOE, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and consulting firm Black & Veatch. It assessed the challenges, evaluated the costs and quantified the benefits and found that 20% wind by 2030 is an “ambitious but achievable goal.”