The wind Industry roaring down the Plains with the goal to meet 20 percent of the nation’s power generation by 2030.

Kylah McNabb, Wind Energy Development Specialist for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce spoke during the Third Oklahoma State University Spears School Energy Conference at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center Tuesday.

The wind sector is mushrooming, she said.

“Technology improvements have led to efficiency imprvement in turbines,” McNabb said.

Installations of 8,300 megawatts last year brought the U.S. wind capacity to 25,170 megawatts.

Yet, in the first quarter this year, 2,800 MW have been installed — more than a fourth of all installed last year.

The state Department of Commerce expects the wind industry to create almost 7,000 jobs within the next five years and 18,000 by 2020 — most coming from the state manufacturing sector.

Those jobs are expected to create $1.46 billion in personal income to be created. Total economic activity will be greater than $2.48 billion.

One reason Oklahoma has an advantage in the industry is its location, McNabb said.

The nation’s heartland is considered the “Saudi Arabia” of wind.

“No other place on earth has the potential for wind energy.” she said.

Still, Oklahoma has lost ground in wind production, slipping from fifth in the nation to 12th.

Other states use public policy to drive wind production — the primary driver is the Renenable Portfolio Standard or the Renewable Energy Standard. Twenty five states have those policies. In Oklahoma, electric utiliteis Public Service Company of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Gas & Electric have pushed the creation and develepment of wind farms without those initiaives.