Small wind is up, AWEA says

WASHINGTON, July 18 (UPI) -- The American Wind Energy Association said the small wind turbine market grew 14 percent last year.

The Washington-based group said that between growing concern over global climate change and the record-high oil and gas prices of the last two years that wind energy is gaining more popularity.

According to the AWEA release, the small wind turbine market deployed 9.7 megawatts in 2007, up 14 percent from 2006.

A small wind system is defined as having a capacity of less than 1 kilowatt each turbine and up to 100 kilowatts.

People are installing small systems now to power their homes, schools, offices, boats and farms. According to the report, more than 9,000 small wind turbine units were sold in 2007 for $42 million, and the total small wind capacity in the United States is now between 55 and 60 megawatts, making it the largest small wind market on the planet.

The AWEA is still calling for a permanent 30 percent federal investment tax credit, which it says would lead to further growth in the wind-energy market.