The Global Wind Energy Council reports that during 2009 North America and Europe, each installed more than 10 gigawatts of new wind capacity. The U.S. wind energy industry experienced a 39% increase in new installed capacity which brought its total capacity total to 35 gigawatts. At the same time, new wind power installations in the EU increased 23% bringing the region's total capacity to nearly 75 gigawatts.
But that was small potatoes compared to China where growth in wind power during 2009 represented one-third of the world's new wind energy installed capacity. With its vast population and seemingly limitless thirst to acquire raw resources and additional energy sources for its emerging middle class, China almost doubled its installed wind farm generation capacity to 25 gigawatts.
The Global Wind Energy Council says cumulative world-wide wind power capacity installed by the end of 2009 totaled nearly 158 gigawatts, a 31% increase from the year before. GWEC's Secretary General says the continued rapid growth of wind power, despite the financial crisis and economic downturn, is testament to the inherent attractiveness of the technology, which is clean, reliable and quick to install.
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