Texas and Iowa Installed More Wind Turbines Than Ever Last Year

The top two U.S. states for wind power installed their most turbines ever last year, helping push up nationwide capacity growth to a seven-year high as tax benefits sent developers rushing projects into service.

Texas added almost 4 gigawatts and Iowa installed 1.7 gigawatts, expanding their lead in wind power capacity, according to a report from the American Wind Energy Association released Wednesday. That helped boost total U.S. installations to 9.1 gigawatts last year, the most since the expiration of federal tax credits triggered a building boom in 2012.