Wind Integration [Guest Editorial]

Looking back two years to the last issue of IEEE Power and Energy Magazine devoted to utility wind integration issues, much has changed and much has stayed the same. In the middle of 2009, the United States was experiencing its best year ever in terms of wind plant installation, setting a new record of 10,000 MW installed. The installation rate took a nose dive in 2010, falling in half to 5,000 MW, in the midst of an economic recession, declining demand, and low natural gas prices. Projections for 2011 are somewhat better than 2010, but not as good as 2009.