By Doug Peeples

SGN News Editor

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But the very large downside is an uncertain future, according to a new report released by DOE and prepared by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

There are a variety of incentives to help support the wind industry, including production tax credits, investment tax credits and Treasury cash grants – but several of those incentives go away at the end of this year – and there's no certainty that all or any of them will be continued. A Washington Post article noted that President Obama wants to extend some of the programs, but Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and other Republicans want to let them expire.

While wind energy technologies and equipment are getting cheaper and the U.S. wind industry is catching up to other countries with major commitments to wind – it had the second fastest growth rate behind China in 2011 – that brief spot in the sun could darken if the incentives aren't renewed. The report predicted that 2012 would continue to be a surge year, but with the triple whammy of an uncertain future for the incentives, continued low prices for natural gas and modest growth in electricity demand, 2013 could see substantial slowing in new wind construction.