Dive Brief:
- Without subsidies, wind has reached worldwide grid parity with natural gas on average at about $84/MWh.
- The cost of wind power has dropped 43% over the last four years, according to the Department of Energy.
- Wind power accounted for 4.8% of U.S. electricity consumption in January 2014, a record for the month, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Dive Insight:
Wind's grid parity with natural gas and coal without subsidies is a real game-changer. Every region is different, but parity could boost wind development in many parts of the U.S. for years to come, regardless of whether the wind production tax credit (PTC) gets extended or not. The Senate is gearing up for a contentious battle on that issue as we speak.
