Wind Power NAICS 221115

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Industry Summary
The 98 companies in the US use wind power to drive a turbine and produce electric energy, which is provided to electric power transmission systems or electric power distribution systems. Utility-scale turbines are generally defined as turbines that exceed 100KW in capacity, but typically range from 1.5 to 7.5MW. Wind energy accounts for about 10.2% of total US electricity generation and about 47.6% of electricity generation from renewable energy, according to the EIA.
“NIMBY” Opposition
Wind farms often face opposition from local residents concerned about noise, aesthetic impacts, and harm to bird populations.
Dependence on Government Support
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law in 2022 and it extends tax credits for renewable energy projects for 10 years, which is expected to bring greater certainty to project planning instead of Congress needing to renew the credits every few years.
Recent Developments
Jul 8, 2025 - Budget Reconciliation Law to Reduce Clean Energy Investment
- Renewable energy industry insiders expect the tax and policy bill signed into law in early July by President Trump to reduce clean energy investments, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act created 30% tax credits for renewable energy projects, either on the development side with Investment Tax Credits (ITC) or for producing clean energy with Production Tax Credits (PTC). The credits were to remain available until 2032. The legislation signed in July sunsets the ITC and PTC for wind and solar projects five years early in 2027. The new law also requires projects to have higher levels of US-derived content and increases restrictions on content from foreign entities of concern (FEOC). Princeton University’s REPEAT Project estimates the new law will reduce US electricity and clean fuels production by $500 billion over the next decade.
- Since the beginning of 2025, nearly $15.5 billion in clean energy investments have been cancelled, closed, or scaled back, according to a report released in late June by clean energy advocacy nonprofits E2 and the Clean Economy Tracker. Many of the cutbacks came in anticipation of the Trump administration’s goal to claw back some tax credits created during the Biden administration. Clean energy projects have also faced other headwinds, including inflation, high interest rates, and supply chain snarls that affected project timelines, according to The Wall Street Journal. The E2 and the Clean Economy Tracker report said about $450 million was invested in May across five states for solar, EV, grid enhancements, and transmission equipment, but those investments come well short of offsetting the value of project cancellations.
- At the recent Transmission and Interconnection Summit sponsored by Infocast, regional grid operators CAISO, ERCOT, MISO, and SPP said they planned to invest billions of dollars to expand electricity transmission infrastructure, according to PV Magazine. Much of the need for transmission investment is driven by anticipated load growth. However, transmission growth is also needed to bring more low-cost renewable energy to the grid. In 2023, the US Department of Energy estimated that a clean grid would require 54,500 gigawatt-miles of additional inter-region transmission capacity. One summit speaker noted operators are committed to building a larger grid that can accommodate renewables additions, reduce costs for ratepayers, and withstand extreme weather and larger loads.
- In early May, Democratic attorneys general from 18 states filed a federal lawsuit to stop President Trump’s pause on federal permitting for land-based and offshore wind projects, according to The New York Times. On his first day in office, President Trump signed several executive orders, including a halt on wind farm permitting pending a federal review. The lawsuit asks a judge in a Massachusetts federal court to prevent federal agencies from blocking wind permitting and to declare Trump’s executive order unlawful. The attorneys general argue the administration’s freeze on permitting posed a significant threat to a clean energy industry at a time when demand for electricity is growing. An administration spokesperson said the lawsuit was an effort to impede the Trump administration’s energy policy. In June, a federal Judge in Massachusetts said he plans to deny a motion by the Trump Administration to dismiss the lawsuit, according to the Associated Press.
Industry Revenue
Wind Power

Industry Structure
Industry size & Structure
The average wind electric power generator employs about 77 workers and generates about $82 million annually.
- The wind electric power generator industry consists of about 98 firms that employ about 7,600 workers and generate almost $8 billion annually.
- The industry is highly concentrated; the top eight companies account for 80% of industry revenue.
- Large firms include Clearway Energy, Energy Capital Partners, and Caithness Energy.
- Large owners of wind capacity include NextEra Energy, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Avangrid, and EDP.
- Wind energy accounts for about 10.2% of total US electricity generation and about 47.6% of electricity generation from renewable energy, according to the EIA.
- More than 74,500 wind turbines operate across 44 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico and represent more than 149,400 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation capacity.
- Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Illinois produced about 59% of total U.S. wind electricity generation in 2023.
- Alta Wind Energy Center in California is the world’s third-largest wind farm generating 1,550 MW of electricity. The first US commercial, utility-scale offshore wind farm – South Fork Wind off the coast of Montauk, New York – came online in 2024.
Industry Forecast
Industry Forecast
Wind Power Industry Growth

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