U.S. wind power capacity increasing

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Wind power in the United States accounted for 32 percent of new electricity capacity in the country last year, a U.S. Energy Department report stated.

The Energy Department, said 32 percent of new electricity added to the national grid in 2011 came from wind energy.

"This report shows that America can lead the world in the global race to manufacture and deploy clean energy technologies," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a statement.

The report states that U.S. wind power capacity reached 47,000 MW by the end of 2011. Another 3,000 MW in wind power has come online this year.

A Production Tax Credit for renewable energy is to expire at the end of the year. Last month, advocacy groups supporting clean energy alternatives sent a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama expressing support for wind development off the eastern coast of the United States.

Last week, the U.S. government said it recognized a request by a division of Norwegian energy company Statoil to have a lease sale for wind energy off the coast of Maine. The U.S. Interior Department said the project could include four turbines that could generate a combined 12 megawatts of power.