Wind by the Numbers: Powering America’s Future
Despite headwinds, the U.S. wind power market remains resilient and will continue to play a significant role in the U.S. electric system.
On Oct. 15, 2026, ACP published its inaugural Market Pulse report on the U.S. wind power market. In the report, ACP projects that 42 GW of new land-based wind capacity will be connected to the grid between 2026 and 2030. Combined with the 160 GW of wind power already on the grid at the end of 2025, the U.S. wind fleet is set to grow to 202 GW — enough to power 58 million homes!
Here are the trends you need to know:
In states like Iowa and South Dakota, wind already makes up almost 60% of all electricity generated, and near-term growth is expected in the windiest regions of the U.S. — across Texas, the Mountain West, the Midwest, and the Plains.
Two projects spotlighted in the Market Pulse demonstrate why wind power is here to stay. When Pattern Energy’s SunZia Wind & Transmission project connected to the grid this spring, the project immediately set a new record for wind output in CAISO. And during weather events this year, Ørsted’s South Fork Wind proved that offshore wind delivers power consistently.
AGE PROFILE OF NON-REPOWERED FLEET
Load growth from data centers will boost the demand for new and existing wind projects as hyperscalers seek to connect to the grid and meet their clean energy goals. In September, Oracle announced power purchase agreements for 1.7 GW of wind power from operational projects owned by Clearway Energy, ENGIE, RWE, and Scout Clean Energy. Additionally, Intersect’s Meitner Energy Center will serve Google’s data center with over one gigawatt of wind, solar, and battery storage systems.
Real opportunities lie ahead for the industry. As the U.S. wind fleet matures, repowering is expected to be a major growth area. For the estimated 48.4 GW of non-repowered wind projects over 10 years of age, asset owners will be able to extend the useful life of projects and increase output with upgraded equipment. Between 2026 and 2030, the four main wind turbine Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) expect to complete 15–20 GW of repowering projects.
LAND-BASED WIND OFFTAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS OVER TIME, BY BUYER TYPE
Wind has long been a part of the U.S. energy mix, consistently delivering power at low cost and zero emissions at times when the grid needs electricity most, all while supporting over 300 manufacturing facilities across the country. The technology will continue to deliver clean, affordable electricity to Americans into the future.
To learn more about how wind is delivering power to Americans, check out the first edition of ACP’s Market Pulse: Wind | Fall 2026 here.
