Wind turbine orders hit 2.8 GW in Q2 ahead of tax credit deadline: WoodMac — SkimNews
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- U.S. wind turbine orders reached 2.8 GW in the second quarter as developers raced to commence construction before July 4, 2026 tax-credit deadlines.
- SunZia made up most of the roughly 5 GW of U.S. onshore capacity installed in the second quarter; the 3.65 GW project in New Mexico is the country's largest such project to date.
- One Big Beautiful Bill Act moved up wind and solar project deadlines for the 45Y and 48E tax credits: projects missing the summer construction-start deadline must be in service by Dec. 31, 2027, while those meeting the July 4 deadline have until Dec. 31, 2030.
- Wood Mackenzie says the U.S. wind industry remains on course to add 39 GW of onshore new-build capacity by 2030; more than half of the 2026-2028 project pipeline is already operating or under construction, limiting near-term risk.
- Repowering forecast for upgrades to existing U.S. wind farms was pulled back 1 GW quarter-on-quarter due to fewer repower-equipment orders than expected, even as tax credits continue to incentivize fleet renewal and decommissioning through 2030.
- Offshore wind delivery is limited to 5 GW within the next two years; policy constraints include Trump's pause on new federal lease sales, administration deals to buy back auctioned leases, and court efforts against farms under construction.
- American Society of Civil Engineers is expected to publish guidelines next year requiring turbines in tornado-prone areas to meet new design requirements, which Wood Mackenzie says will increase project costs.
Why it matters: Developers that started construction by July 4, 2026 must place projects in service by Dec. 31, 2030; those that missed the summer deadline have only until Dec. 31, 2027. The timing divide directly determines tax-credit eligibility, even as Wood Mackenzie keeps the 2030 onshore new-build outlook at 39 GW.
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