Wind power is undergoing an explosive growth spurt, with wind-energy capacity growing an average of 26 percent annually during the 1990s and 35 percent last year. Most of the growth has taken place in Europe, where governments have encouraged wind-power development with research investments and other incentives. In the U.S., a federal tax credit for wind power expires today and two bills have been proposed to extend it. On a less positive note, a California wind power producer has filed suit to stop another upwind producer from replacing old windmills with a much smaller number of new, efficient ones, claiming that the move will negatively affect downsteam air speed and stability.
