How many megawatts of electricity were added in 1997?

The world added 2,100 megawatts of new wind energy generating capacity in 1998, a new all-time record, and 35 per cent more than was added in 1997, according to preliminary estimates by the World watch Institute.
    The new wind turbines added in 1998 pushed overall wind generating capacity worldwide to 9,600 megawatts at the end of this year. This means that the capacity in place had been doubled in just three years. These wind turbines will generate roughly 21 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 1999 -- enough for 3.5 million suburban homes. Wind power is now the world’s fastest growing energy source.
     Wind power has also become one of the most rapidly expanding industries, with sales of roughly $ 2 billion in 1998. The wind industry is creating thousands of jobs at a time when employment in manufacturing is falling in many nations.
     The 1998 boom in wind energy was led by Germany, which added 800 megawatts, pushing its wind energy capacity to over 2,800 megawatts. Germany’s wind industry, which is only seven years old, is already producing as much electricity as two of the country’s largest coal-fired power plants. In the windy northern state of Schleswig Holstein, wind now pro vides 15 percent of the electricity.