Wind power in California

{{further|Wind power in the United States}}

California was the first U.S. state where large wind farms were developed, beginning in the early 1980s.{{Cite web|url=http://awea.files.cms-plus.com/FileDownloads/pdfs/California.pdf|title=Wind Energy in California|website=American Wind Energy Association|access-date=1 May 2018}} By 1995, California produced 30 percent of the entire world's wind-generated electricity.{{cite web|title=Overview of Wind Energy in California|url=http://www.energy.ca.gov/wind/overview.html|publisher=California Energy Commission|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118102209/http://www.energy.ca.gov/wind/overview.html|archive-date=2017-01-18}} Wind power in Texas surpassed the production in California to become the leader in the United States.

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.

The Alta Wind Energy Center is a wind farm located in Tehachapi Pass in Kern County.{{cite web|title=World's Largest Wind Project is Underway|url=https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2010/07/worlds-largest-wind-project-is-underway.html|website=RenewableEnergyWorld.com|access-date=2018-04-14|date=July 29, 2010}} Kern County is reviewing a number of other proposed wind projects that would generate a combined 4,600 megawatts of renewable energy if approved.{{cite web|title=California's largest wind power projects has been approved by Kern County|url=https://www.evwind.es/2009/12/17/californias-largest-wind-power-projects-has-been-approved-by-kern-county/2880|website=REVE|access-date=2018-04-14|date=December 17, 2009}}{{Update inline|date=August 2021}}

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{{Location map+|California |width=310

|alt=The locations of California wind farms

|caption=California wind farms

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{{Location map~|California |coordinates={{coord|35|1|N|118|19|W}}|position=right |background=#FFFFFF | label=Alta Wind Energy Center |mark=Windmill.svg |marksize=20}}

{{Location map~|California |coordinates={{coord|37|44|N|121|39|W}}|position=right |background=#FFFFFF | label=Altamont Pass wind farm |mark=Windmill.svg |marksize=20}}

{{Location map~|California |coordinates={{coord|32|45|N|116|3|W}}|position=right |background=#FFFFFF | label=Ocotillo wind energy project |mark=Windmill.svg |marksize=20}}

{{Location map~|California |coordinates={{coord|33|55|N|116|19|W}}|position=left |background=#FFFFFF | label=San Gorgonio Pass wind farm |mark=Windmill.svg |marksize=20}}

{{Location map~|California |coordinates={{coord|38|7|N|121|50|W}}|position=left |background=#FFFFFF | label=Shiloh wind power plant |mark=Windmill.svg |marksize=20}}

{{Location map~|California |coordinates={{coord|35|6|N|118|58|W}}|position=left |background=#FFFFFF | label=Tehachapi Pass wind farm |mark=Windmill.svg |marksize=20}}

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{{wide image|San gorgonio pass wind farm california pano.jpg|1000px|The majority of the San Gorgonio Pass wind farm as viewed from the San Jacinto Mountains to the south. (The farm continues over the hills to the north along California State Route 62 and is not visible from this vantagepoint). The layout includes a variety of large modern and older smaller turbine designs}}

File:California electricity production by type.webp

In 2011, 921.3 MW of new production capacity was installed: mostly in the Tehachapi area of Kern County, with some big projects in Solano, Contra Costa and Riverside counties as well.{{cite web|url=http://www.calwea.org/pdfs/2012/5_percent_CA_wind_final_rel013112.pdf |title=Five Percent of California's Energy Supply Now Comes From Wind|publisher=California Wind Energy Assn|access-date=February 2, 2012}}{{cite news|last1=Dickerson|first1=Marla|title=Wind power blowing up in California|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-jan-31-la-wind-power-california-20120131-story.html |access-date=2018-04-14|work=Los Angeles Times|date=31 January 2012}}2012 Third Quarter Market Report, American Wind Energy Association

California had a total of 5,662 MW of installed wind generation capacity at the end of 2015.{{cite web|title=AWEA Fourth Quarter 2016 Market Report Public Version|url=http://www.awea.org/4q2016|publisher=American Wind Energy Association|access-date=March 9, 2017}} After leading the country for many years, in 2016 California ranked fourth nationwide in terms of capacity, behind Texas, Iowa, and Oklahoma.{{Cite web|url=http://www.neo.ne.gov/statshtml/205.htm|title=Wind Energy Facilities Installed Capacity Ranked by State/Territory|last=|first=|date=2016|website=Official Nebraska Government Website|access-date=2018-04-09}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/soapbox/article151571387.html|title=California is falling behind in producing wind power|last=Osborn-Mills|first=Danielle|date=May 22, 2017|work=Sacramento Bee|access-date=2018-04-09}}

In 2016, California used about 285,700 GWh{{cite web|title=Electricity Consumption by County|url=http://www.ecdms.energy.ca.gov/elecbycounty.aspx |website=California Energy Commission}} and generated 13,500 GWh of wind energy in state.{{cite web|title=Total System Electric Generation|url=http://www.energy.ca.gov/almanac/electricity_data/total_system_power.html |website=California Energy Commission}}

Wind energy supplied about 6.9% of California's total electricity needs in 2017 (including power supplied from other states),{{cite web |title=California Wind Energy |url=http://awea.files.cms-plus.com/FileDownloads/pdfs/California.pdf |access-date=27 December 2017 |website=U.S. Wind Energy State Facts |publisher=American Wind Energy Association}} and 7.35% in 2019. By the end of 2019, installed wind generation capacity had increased to 5,973 MW.{{cite web|title=Wind Energy in California|url=https://windexchange.energy.gov/states/ca|publisher=WINDExchange|access-date=May 6, 2020}}

Due to higher average wind speeds in the plains area of the U.S., California ranked fifth in wind generation in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_1_14_b |title=EIA - Electricity Data|website=www.eia.gov|language=en |access-date=2018-05-01}}

In January 2018, the Tule Wind Project came online. Located in eastern San Diego County, the facility has 57 wind turbines which collectively generate 131.1 MW of electricity. There are plans to expand this project by an additional 24 turbines in the future.{{cite news|last1=Nikolewski|first1=Rob |title=Tule Wind Farm now producing electricity|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/sd-fi-tule-windfarm-20180125-story.html |access-date=7 February 2018|agency=San Diego Union Tribune|date=January 25, 2018}} In its current configuration, the installation is able to power an estimated 40,000 homes.{{cite news|last1=Gibbins|first1=John |title=East county wind farm going strong|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/visuals/photography/sd-pg-east-county-wind-farm-going-strong-20180126-photogallery.html |access-date=7 February 2018|agency=San Diego Union Tribune|date=2018}} CAISO tested the wind farm's synchronverter in 2018, and found it could perform some of the grid services similar or better than traditional generators.{{cite web |last1=Balaraman |first1=Kavya |title=Wind plants can provide grid services similar to gas, hydro, easing renewables integration: CAISO |url=https://www.utilitydive.com/news/wind-plants-can-provide-grid-services-similar-to-gas-hydro-easing-renewab/574070/ |website=Utility Dive |date=13 March 2020 }}[http://www.caiso.com/Documents/WindPowerPlantTestResults.pdf Tuel Wind Power Plant Test Results] CAISO, 2019

In February 2018, Scout Clean Energy of Colorado won the rights to modernize the Gonzaga Ridge wind farm which is located in Pacheco State Park. Rated at 16.5 MW, the Gonzaga Ridge facility currently uses 1980s era wind turbines which are smaller, less cost-effective, and overall far less efficient at generating energy than those which currently being produced. The electrical output of Gonzaga Ridge after modernization is projected to be between 65 MW and 80 MW.{{Cite web|url=https://www.windpowerengineering.com/business-news-projects/quinbrook-repower-california-wind-farm/ |title=Quinbrook to repower California wind farm|last=Froese|first=Michelle |date=February 5, 2018|website=Windpower Engineering and Development|access-date=}}{{Update inline|date=August 2021}}

File:California Offshore Wind Speed at 100 Meters.webp

A 2009 Stanford University study of California offshore wind potential identified a site off Cape Mendocino that could provide uninterrupted year-round power from a 1500 MW wind farm that would produce an average of 790 MW. Three types of offshore wind power were studied, with the conclusion that from 12,300 to 19,700 GWh/yr could be delivered from 1,997 to 3,331 MW of monopile wind turbines installed in up to {{convert|20| meter||adj=mid| deep water|order=flip}}, from 38,200 to 73,000 GWh/yr could be delivered from 6,202 to 12,374 MW of multi-leg wind turbines in {{convert|20 |to| 50| meter||adj=mid| deep water|order=flip}}, and from 462,100 to 568,200 GWh/yr from 73,025 to 91,707 MW of floating turbine foundation wind turbines in from {{convert|50 |to| 290| meter||adj=mid| deep water|order=flip}},[http://www.stanford.edu/~dvorak/papers/dvorak-archer-jacobson-2010-california-offshore-wind-energy-potential.pdf California offshore wind energy potential] such as those being studied for use off the coast of Maine by the Ocean Energy Institute and the DeepCwind Consortium.

{{cite web

| url= http://www.oceanenergy.org/

| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20020723215432/http://oceanenergy.org/

| url-status= usurped

| archive-date= July 23, 2002

| title= Ocean Energy Institute

| year= 2008 | access-date= 2008-12-15 }}

In April 2018, several power development companies joined with Redwood Coast Energy Authority to explore the idea of creating a large-scale wind farm off of the Northern California coast. Deep water has hindered development off the coast of California, making the use floating turbines more feasible than fixed turbines. The group decided to propose instead. RCEA and the development companies intended to file a lease with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in the summer of 2018 for the 120-150 MW project.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-wind-offshore/group-pursuing-floating-wind-farm-off-california-coast-idUSL2N1RG237 |title=Group pursuing floating wind farm off California coast|author=Reuters Editorial|work=U.S.|access-date=2018-04-04|language=en-US}} The Humboldt Project will be located just over {{convert|20 |miles}} west of Eureka, California and estimates have the date of completion to be sometime in 2024.{{cite web|title=California Chooses Floating Offshore Wind Technology|url=https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/california-chooses-floating-offshore-wind-technology#gs.0HD8zIg |website=The Marine Executive|access-date=6 April 2018}} In 2022, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a statement of no significant environmental impact,{{cite web |title=BOEM completes California offshore environmental study |url=https://renews.biz/77657/boem-completes-california-offshore-environmental-study/ |website=reNEWS - Renewable Energy News |date=6 May 2022}} and California set a target of 25 GW of offshore wind by 2045.{{cite web |last1=Buljan |first1=Adrijana |title=California Adopts 2045 Offshore Wind Target, Plans Installing 25 GW by That Time |url=https://www.offshorewind.biz/2022/08/11/california-adopts-2045-offshore-wind-target-plans-installing-25-gw-by-that-time/ |website=Offshore Wind |date=11 August 2022}}

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File:California Electricity Generation Sources Pie Chart.svg

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{{Portal|Wind power|Renewable energy|Energy|United States|California}}

• Solar power in California
• Renewable energy in California
• Wind power in the United States
• Renewable energy in the United States
• List of wind farms in the United States
• Clipper Windpower

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://content.caiso.com/green/renewrpt/DailyRenewablesWatch.pdf Daily California renewable energy generation report]

{{Wind power in the United States}}

{{Energy in the USA}}

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