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cost retreated to approximately US$60 per ton in response to the autumn
2008 global economic slowdown which quashed demand for coal, the cost is
still 30-50% higher than historic levels (US$61 as of February 8, 2013). What
this suggests is that it has become considerably more costly to generate a kWh
of electricity from fossil fuel technologies than it did 10 to 15 years ago.
Conversely, the cost of wind power has declined signiicantly over the past
two decades. According to one recent study, modern wind energy systems
in the United States can now generate power for about US$0.05-0.08 per
kWh, making these systems “competitive with the cost of fossil fuel genera-
tion in many markets.” 60 he Department of Energy concurs. According to
a 2008 report, the cost of wind power ranged between US$0.03-0.065 per
kWh in 2006. 61 herefore, even if the GHG emission reduction imperative is
ignored, the combination of escalating fossil fuel costs and declining wind
power generation costs is chipping away at the foundation of the greatest
barrier to political support for expanding wind power capacity.
he wind power sector is also beginning to receive attention as a source
of new jobs. Already over 75,000 people are employed in the US wind
industry and the US Department of Energy estimates that the industry
will support 500,000 American jobs by 2030. 62 By comparison, the US
Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that the US coal indus-
try employed 91,611 people in 2011, despite accounting for 15 times more
electricity generated. As further testament to the job creation beneits of
wind power over coal-ired power, the World Resource Institute estimates
that wind power generates 50% more employment per kWh. 63 As an aside, it
merits noting that 7 of the 12 states that do not currently have any installed
wind power are Appalachian states—a region which accounts for over 60%
of national coal production.
Given these positive economic attributes of wind power, the strategic hold
that fossil fuel technologies have over electricity generation is weakening.
When combined with carbon tax regimes, which are emerging throughout
the United States, there appears to be a positive economic climate forming
in support of wind power.
7.4.3 Technological Landscape
Massive wind power potential in the United States is a technological
enabler. he National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has estimated
that 10,956 GW of economically viable onshore wind power potential
exists in the United States (at 80 m). 64 Assuming a capacity factor of 30%,
if fully realized, this amount of wind power could produce 38.5 petawatt
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