EDP Renewables to put $4 bln into U.S. wind market

* Co is third-largest wind power producer in U.S.
* Currently has 2.5 gigawatts of capacity in U.S.
LOS ANGELES, Nov 18 (Reuters) - EPD Renewables will invest $4 billion into the U.S. wind market over the next three years, the company said on Thursday, citing the government's commitment to a clean energy economy.
EPDR, the wind energy unit of Portuguese Energias de Portugal , ranks as the third-largest wind energy producer in the United States with 2.5 gigawatts of capacity.
Wind power has been one of the fastest growing sources of power generation but the credit crisis has slowed its expansion. The U.S. wind power additions in 2008 pushed the country past Germany as the world's top wind power generator, but China is expected to become the leading producer in 2009.
The company said in a statement that the new investment will go toward new projects and manufacturing equipment.
Last month EDPR posted a 19-percent rise in nine-month profit and beat market expectations, with most of its new wind turbines installed in the United States. [ID:nLS620113]
Iberdrola Renewables, a unit of Spain's Iberdrola SA , said in September it plans to invest more than $6 billion in the U.S. renewable energy facilities through 2012. (Reporting by Laura Isensee; editing by Carol Bishopric)