U.S. Wind-power Body Cuts U.S. Growth Outlook Again

COPENHAGEN -- - The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) cut on Friday for the second time this year its forecast for installed wind energy capacity in the United States in 2003 due to a weakened outlook for the U.S. market.

This year, AWEA said it expected the American wind energy market to grow by 1,100-1,400 MegaWatt, compared to the earlier expected 1,500-1,800 MW.

"The growth that is underway across the country is expected to boost U.S. installed wind power capacity from current levels of 4,700 MW to approximately 6,000 MW," AWEA said in a statement.

The estimated expansion to 6,000 MW is enough to serve around 1.5 million homes.

Growth in U.S. wind energy has been hampered due to delayed tax incentive legislation for wind farm developers to install turbines.

A world leading wind turbine maker, Denmark's NEG Micon ((NEG.CO)), said earlier this year it expected the U.S. market to grow by 1,500 MW and that it would grab 20 percent of that.

Both NEG Micon and Danish Vestas ((VEST.CO)), the world's biggest maker of turbines, have recently said that new U.S. orders had to land soon in order to deliver the mills within this year and thus reach their full-year targets.

Shares in both companies fell at opening. By 0740 GMT NEG Micon stock shed 4.0 percent to 59.5 crowns, while Vestas was off 3.4 percent at 48.2 crowns on a flat Copenhagen bourse.