Tehachapi Wind Resource Area

{{Short description|Area of wind farms near Tehachapi Mountains, California}}

{{Infobox landform

| name = Tehachapi Wind Resource Area

| other_name =

| type = Wind resource area

| photo = Central part of Tehachapi Wind Resource Area (Alta Wind Energy Center, Tehachapi Pass wind farm), California – satellite image with scale bar.png

| photo_width = 250px

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| photo_caption = Central part of Tehachapi Wind Resource Area from space

| map = California

| map_relief = yes

| map_size = 250

| map_caption = Location of the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area

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| label = TWRA

| label_position = right

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| location = Kern County, California

| coordinates = {{Coord|35|04|05|N|118|15|45|W|type:landmark_region:US-CA|display=inline,title|format=dms|name=Tehachapi Wind Resource Area}}

| range = Sierra Nevada, Tehachapi Mountains

| part_of = Antelope Valley, Indian Wells Valley, Tehachapi Pass

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| area = {{convert|800|mi2|km2|abbr=on}} (approx.)

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The Tehachapi Wind Resource Area (TWRA) is a large wind resource area along the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi Mountains in California. It is the largest wind resource area in California, encompassing an area of approximately {{convert|800|mi2|km2|abbr=on}} and producing a combined 3,507 MW of renewable electricity between its 5 independent wind farms.

The mountain pass acts as a venturi effect to air moving between ocean and desert, increasing wind speed.{{cite web |title=Why Tehachapi Pass? / Pioneers of the Wind / Hike A Mile or Two - Thousand Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=63166 |website=www.hmdb.org |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201019013017/https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=63166 |archive-date=19 October 2020 |language=en |url-status=live}}

This area is a net exporter of generation to other parts of the state of California. A state initiative to upgrade the transmission out of Tehachapi (the 4.5 GW Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project) began in 2008 and was completed by 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sce.com/wps/portal/home/about-us/reliability/upgrading-transmission/TRTP-4-11/ |title=TRTP {{!}} Projects in Progress {{!}} Reliability {{!}} About Us {{!}} Home - SCE|website=www.sce.com|language=en|access-date=2017-03-14}} This has opened the door to further regional wind power development up to 10 GW,{{cite web |last1=Cummings |first1=Nikki |title=Tehachapi: Planned for Prosperity {{!}} Wind Systems Magazine |url=https://www.windsystemsmag.com/tehachapi-planned-for-prosperity/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221003072306/https://www.windsystemsmag.com/tehachapi-planned-for-prosperity/ |archive-date=3 October 2022 |date=5 August 2010 |url-status=live}} and multiple solar and storage projects are installed to utilize that capacity.{{cite web |title=Edwards Air Force Base harnessing the sun to bring more energy storage to the state |url=https://www.turnto23.com/news/local-news/edwards-air-force-base-harnessing-the-sun-to-bring-more-energy-storage-to-the-state |website=KERO 23 ABC News Bakersfield |language=en |date=2 February 2023}} A prime location for viewing the turbines is off of State Route 58 and from Tehachapi-Willow Springs Road.