This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.

January 30, 2013

Keeping America Competitive: Bringing Down the Cost of Small Wind Turbines

How do we stay competitive in the global wind energy market? A key component is continued leadership in manufacturing small wind turbines—those rated at 100 kilowatts or less.

Historically, the United States has been the leading manufacturer of small wind turbines, helping to boost economic growth and create job opportunities. U.S. small wind manufacturers report using 80-85 percent domestic content in their turbines, and the small wind industry represents an estimated 1,600 American jobs. Still, in the increasingly competitive global wind market—our continued leadership in this field is far from guaranteed.

To help U.S. small turbine manufacturers maintain their leading international market position, we’re investing in two projects—led by Maine's Pika Energy and Oklahoma's Bergey Windpower Company—as part of the Energy Department's Small Wind Turbine Competitiveness Improvement Project. This initiative supports manufacturers in their efforts to lower the cost of energy from small turbines by improving their components and upgrading their manufacturing processes. To read the complete story, see theEnergy Blog.