Xcel Energy Inc. ranked first, while Minnesota jumped from fourth to third in the nation for companies and states generating the largest amount of wind power in 2007, the American Wind Energy Association said Wednesday in its annual report.

By the end of last year, Minnesota had installed 1,299 megawatts (MW) of wind energy, surpassing the 1,000-megawatt mark for the first time and placing third nationally behind Texas (4,446 MW) and California (2,439 MW). Minnesota beat out Iowa by just 38 megawatts. The Gopher State added 405 MW of wind capacity in 2007 alone.

One megawatt of wind power produces enough electricity to power 250 to 300 homes.

About 4.6 percent of all the electricity generated in Minnesota comes from wind, a figure surpassed only by Iowa, which gets 5.5 percent of its electricity from wind. New Mexico produces 3.9 percent of its total, Oregon 3.5 percent and South Dakota 2.6 percent.

Xcel Energy, which is required by the state to produce nearly a third of its energy from renewable sources by 2020, bought or produced 2,635 MW of wind energy last year to place first in the nation for the third year in a row. That's more than twice as much wind power as its nearest rival, MidAmerica Energy (1,201 MW).

General Energy, Vestas, Siemens, Gamesa and Mitsubishi ranked as the nation's largest manufacturers of wind turbines. Meanwhile, India-based Suzlon, which has a growing turbine plant operation in Pipestone, Minn., manufactured some of the tallest turbines in the nation (300 to 500 feet), along with Vestas, Clipper Nordex and Siemens.

Dee DePass • 612-673-7725