For the first time, wind power surpasses hydroelectric in U.S. (NYT)

Diane Cardwell / The New York Times

(Foto: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The wind industry crossed an important threshold in the United States last year, exceeding the generating capacity of hydroelectric power for the first time, according to the main industry trade group, the American Wind Energy Association.

The nation?s fleet of dams has long stood as the top renewable energy source, but there has been little market interest in building more big hydroelectric generating stations. In the meantime, wind has rapidly expanded ? more than tripling in capacity since 2008 ? with many more installations on the way.

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