California: The Growth of a Renewables Industry

Abstract

The USA as a topic for discussion for renewable energy is important for a number of reasons. However, in empirical terms much of its importance lies in the fact that by September 2009 it boasted around 30 GW³ of wind power, not to mention various quantities of other types of renewable energy. US wind capacity had overtaken the previous wind capacity leader, Germany, by a clear margin. As with much of the focus of this book, most attention will be on wind power development, although, as will become clearer later, other renewable fuels will be discussed, including issues surrounding different types of solar power.