The idea behind the subsidies and mandates is to foster a market for wind and other renewable power sources so the technology can be perfected and economies of scale reached to the point where they can compete on their own.

The strategy appears to be working -- AWEA said the costs for turbines has decreased 33% over the last three years.

New Energy Finance's Grace said wind should be cost competitive nationwide in two or three years. Critics say the renewable industry has been promising this since the 1970s, and has yet to deliver.