Wonder Wind Power, Activate!

Here.

Excerpts:

...even with the record-setting 2007—wind made up about one-third of new power added in the U.S. last year, —it still accounts for just under 1% of America’s electricity generation.

That’s not going to grow too fast, no matter how many wind farms spring up. Wind power, unlike nuclear, coal- or gas-fired plants, doesn’t work overtime. GWEC figures wind power’s capacity in 2005 was about 24%–that is, wind turbines spin 1 hour out of 4, year-round.

That will improve, but slowly. Bigger and taller turbines, in more favorable locations—especially offshore—will make wind turbines more efficient. But it will be a long time before wind power’s paper strength starts to be reflected in real electricity generation. GWEC’s own figures point to wind power creeping toward 30% efficiency over the next twenty years.