by Agustino Fontevecchia

       For the U.S. wind industry, the first quarter of 2011 marked the best start to a year in recent memory, according to trade organization AWEA.

       In the January-March period, the report says 1,100 megawatts (MW) of new wind power capacity was installed in the U.S., with plans for an additional 5,600 MW.  With total production of 41,400 MW, wind currently powers about 10 million households and is responsible for 35% of all new generating capacity added since 2007.  New projects they are attracting the attention of massive corporations such as Google and Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway.

       “Just notice that 15 years ago, the largest wind turbines were very small by current standards, with turbines that can generate 2 to 3 megawatts,” said Nick Blitterswyk, founder and CEO of Urban Green Energy, a New York-based firm specializing in the production of small wind turbines.  Blitterswyk explained that wind has benefited from the Obama Administration’s increased interest in renewable energy, especially as China has been one of the leaders in clean energy, “why would the U.S. do anything to turn green if China will continue to pollute? That was the old paradigm, but things in China are happening so fast” that the U.S. needs to catch up, said Blitterswyk.

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