Furthermore, the size of wind energy turbines requires them to be produced closer to installation sites, which provides opportunities for manufacturers in regions near wind-energy installations, such as the Chicago-area 21-county region. However, the low price of coal-generated electricity in the US (Figure 2.1) will likely continue to exert pressure on wind technologies to become more cost-effective. A national price signal that internalises the environmental externalities associated with fossil fuels, such as a cap-and-trade programme or a carbon tax, could make renewable energy sources significantly more cost-competitive with fossil fuel sources, depending on the baseline price.