Wind energy is the cheapest form of new electricity generation available today. Wind power is more expensive than power from old, established power plants, but it is cost competitive with any new power plant.

Technology innovations and market building incentives have helped to dramatically lower costs over the last 20 years. When the first commercial-scale wind turbines were installed in the 1980s, wind-generated electricity cost up to 30 cents per kilowatt-hour. Today, wind power plants can generate electricity for less than 5 cents per kilowatt-hour, a price that is competitive with new coal- or gas-fired power plants.