Crisis damps U.S. wind power growth in 2009-GWEC—will grow by (only) 7,800 megawatts (MW) in 2009

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http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSLC39654220090312

Crisis damps U.S. wind power growth in 2009-GWEC

Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:18pm EDT

Crisis hampers growth in the U.S. in next two years
Growth in Europe to remain flat in 2009
Global wind power capacity to nearly triple by 2013

By Muriel Boselli

PARIS, March 13 (Reuters) - The economic downturn will dent wind power growth in the United States in 2009, as firms scramble to finance their projects, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) said on Thursday.

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The council said a $787 billion U.S. stimulus package would however help revive the sector when it kicked in, through tax breaks, financial incentives, loan guarantees and grants.

"For the next year or two, developments in the U.S. are expected to be hampered by a lack of financing and the overall economic downturn," the council said in a news release.

Wind power capacity in the U.S. will grow by 7,800 megawatts (MW) in 2009, equivalent to nine nuclear reactors, to 33,000 MW.

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