Wind energy production nationwide increased by 1,649 megawatts during the third quarter, but you'd never know it by looking at wind installation in Iowa and Minnesota, the largest wind energy states in the Midwest.

Both states recorded no gain in installed wind energy, although they have a total of seven wind projects under construction as the fourth quarter began.

Details of the nationwide wind scene are contained in an 18-page third quarter 2009 Market Report released Tuesday by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).

AWEA officials credited federal stimulus funding for helping complete the recently ended quarter's developments and more than 1,700 megawatts in new project starts.

"But manufacturing ... remains uncertain," said Denise Bode, CEO of the AWEA, in a news release. Bode added that "a firm, long-term commitment to renewable energy is still needed for the U.S. to become a wind turbine manufacturing powerhouse and create hundreds of thousands of jobs."

AWEA plans to discuss the third-quarter market report during a Wednesday webcast scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Minneapolis time.

The total amount of installed U.S. wind power capacity now exceeds 31,000 megawatts, or enough to power nearly 9,000 homes, according to the trade group.

And while Iowa and Minnesota rank No. 2 and No. 4 among states in operating wind power capacity, with 3,053 megawatts and 1,805 megawatts, respectively, no projects were recorded during the third quarter.

Uncertainty in the manufacturing sector will extend into the fourth quarter, with the 5,000 megawatts of wind farms now under construction falling nearly 38 percent below the 8,000 megawatts in projects started at this time during 2008.

And while not dead, the Minnesota wind industry is being outpaced by Iowa, which more than doubled its wind energy production capacity in 2008 and currently has three wind farms totaling 399.3 megawatts of electricity under construction.

Iowa, Minnesota still near the top

By contrast, Minnesota has just 60.4 megawatts of wind projects under construction. Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy Inc. will purchase power produced by the four wind developments being built, according to the report.

Ranked by total operating capacity, the top five wind energy states are Texas, 8,797 megawatts; Iowa, 3,053 megawatts; California, 2,787 megawatts; Minnesota, 1,805 megawatts; and Oregon, 1,659 megawatts.

Bode's long-term commitment parlance follows a late September joint-statement by global wind energy companies and trade associations to invest in manufacturing that could generate green jobs as well as renewable energy.

Members of the Global Wind Energy Council said, "For nations to fully reap this economic and environmental potential, it is crucial to introduce firm and long-term national renewable energy policies."

Jeff Wright, president of Minneapolis-based Midwest Wind Energy Finance, said a combination of the weak economy, lower energy demand and ongoing review of eligible wind projects by Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO), which controls access to the power grid, has made the Midwest a "tough region" to develop wind projects in.

Additionally, Wright said details of stimulus package funding and how to garner project grants or loans were slow to emerge.

"We're relatively bullish about the industry long-term," said Wright, who characterized 2009 as "sort of a lost year" for wind energy development. He said 2010 has a good chance of being a "breakout year" for development of wind energy.

The states that added the most wind power capacity, Q3 (in megawatts):

• Texas 436
• Oregon 251
• Illinois 201
• Colorado 174
• Wyoming 170