Wind power in California
Encyclopedia
Wind power in California has been an area of considerable activity for many years. California
was the first U.S. state where large wind farm
s were developed, beginning in the early 1980s. By 1995, California produced 30 percent of the entire world's wind-generated electricity. However, this situation has changed and Texas is currently the leader in wind power development in the USA
followed by Iowa and then California.
Historically, most of California's wind power output has been in three primary regions: Altamont Pass Wind Farm
(east of San Francisco); Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm
(south east of Bakersfield) and San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm
(near Palm Springs, east of Los Angeles). A fourth area, the Montezuma Hills
of Solano County, was developed in 2005-2009, with the large Shiloh Wind Power Plant
.
As of 2010, work has begun on the Alta Wind Energy Center
, a windfarm located in Tehachapi Pass
in Kern County, California
. Kern County is reviewing a number of other proposed wind projects that would generate a combined 4,600 megawatts of renewable energy
if approved.
in MW for California since 1999.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
was the first U.S. state where large wind farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
s were developed, beginning in the early 1980s. By 1995, California produced 30 percent of the entire world's wind-generated electricity. However, this situation has changed and Texas is currently the leader in wind power development in the USA
Wind power in the United States
As of the third quarter of 2011, the cumulative installed capacity of wind power in the United States was 43,461 megawatts , making it second in the world, behind China. In 2010 wind power accounted for 2.3% of the electricity generated in the United States...
followed by Iowa and then California.
Historically, most of California's wind power output has been in three primary regions: Altamont Pass Wind Farm
Altamont Pass Wind Farm
The Altamont Pass Wind Farm is located in the Altamont Pass of the Diablo Range in Central California. It is one of the earliest wind farms in the United States. The wind farm is composed of 4930 relatively small wind turbines of various types, making it at one time the largest farm in the world in...
(east of San Francisco); Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm
Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm
Wind development in the Tehachapi Pass began in the early 1980s. The area hosts a multitude of wind farms, comprising one of California's largest wind resource areas. The pass is undergoing much repowering activity...
(south east of Bakersfield) and San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm
San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm
The San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm is a wind farm located on the eastern slope of the San Gorgonio Pass in Riverside County, just east of White Water, California, United States. Developed beginning in the 1980s, it is one of three major wind farms in California, along with those at Altamont and the...
(near Palm Springs, east of Los Angeles). A fourth area, the Montezuma Hills
Montezuma Hills
The Montezuma Hills comprise a small range of low-elevation hills at the northern banks of the Sacramento River Delta in Solano County, California. The Montezuma Hills are bounded by the Sacramento River on the south and east; the Montezuma Slough on the west and roughly by California State Route...
of Solano County, was developed in 2005-2009, with the large Shiloh Wind Power Plant
Shiloh Wind Power Plant
The Shiloh Wind Power Plant is a wind farm located in the Montezuma Hills of Solano County, California, USA, very near to Bird's Landing. It has a nameplate capacity of 300 megawatts of power and was built in two stages.- Shiloh I :...
.
As of 2010, work has begun on the Alta Wind Energy Center
Alta Wind Energy Center
The Alta Wind Energy Center is a wind farm located in Tehachapi Pass of the Tehachapi Mountains, in Kern County, California. As of 2011, it is the largest wind farm in California, with a combined installed capacity of 720 MW. The project, which is being developed near Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm...
, a windfarm located in Tehachapi Pass
Tehachapi Pass
Tehachapi Pass is a mountain pass crossing the Tehachapi Mountains in Kern County, California in the United States. The route over the pass connects the San Joaquin Valley to the Mojave Desert...
in Kern County, California
Kern County, California
Spreading across the southern end of the California Central Valley, Kern County is the fifth-largest county by population in California. Its economy is heavily linked to agriculture and to petroleum extraction, and there is a strong aviation and space presence. Politically, it has generally...
. Kern County is reviewing a number of other proposed wind projects that would generate a combined 4,600 megawatts of renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
if approved.
Installed capacity growth
Wind power accounted for accounted for 3.3% of total electricity generated in California during 2010. The following table shows the growth in wind power installed nameplate capacityNameplate capacity
Nameplate capacity, also known as the rated capacity, nominal capacity, installed capacity or maximum effect, refers to the intended technical full–load sustained output of a facility such as a power plant, a chemical plant, fuel plant, metal refinery, mine, and many others.For dispatchable power,...
in MW for California since 1999.
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See also
- Renewable energy in the United StatesRenewable energy in the United StatesRenewable energy accounted for 14.3 percent of the domestically produced electricity in the United States in the first six months of 2011. Hydroelectricity is the largest producer of renewable power in the United States. In 2009, the U.S...
- Wind power in the United StatesWind power in the United StatesAs of the third quarter of 2011, the cumulative installed capacity of wind power in the United States was 43,461 megawatts , making it second in the world, behind China. In 2010 wind power accounted for 2.3% of the electricity generated in the United States...
- List of wind farms
- Clipper WindpowerClipper WindpowerClipper Windpower is a wind turbine manufacturing company formed in 2001 by James G.P. Dehlsen, who also formed Zond in 1980. In December 2010 Clipper Windpower was acquired by United Technologies Corporation.-History:...