IBEW wind turbine along
I93
The U.S. state of Massachusetts has vast wind energy resources onshore as well as offshore and the installed capacity has been growing in recent years due to a variety of regulatory actions and financial incentives enacted by the state government. Notable policies include a Renewable portfolio standard that requires 22% of the state's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020 and a goal of installing 2,000 MW of wind power in the state by 2020.[1]
Notable projects [edit]
Installed in 2005, the IBEW 100 kW wind turbine along I93 south of Boston drew attention to wind power to tens of thousands of commuters.[2] In 2009, a similar wind turbine was installed along I93 north of Boston, in Medford, expected to generate 170,000 kWh/year.[3][4]
At about 450 MW, the offshore wind farm Cape Wind is the largest wind project under construction or review in the state. It would provide enough electricity to power nearly 420,000 homes using 130 wind turbines.[5]
New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal [edit]
The proposed New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal is the first in the country hub designed for the deployment of offshore wind farms.[6]
Capacity [edit]
Installed [edit]
The following table shows the growth in wind power installed nameplate capacity in MW for Massachusetts since 2000.[7][8]
| Year |
Amount |
Change |
% Change |
| 2000 |
0 |
0 |
- |
| 2001 |
1 |
1 |
- |
| 2006 |
4 |
3 |
300% |
| 2007 |
5 |
1 |
25% |
| 2008 |
6 |
1 |
20% |
| 2009 |
15 |
9 |
150% |
| 2010 |
18 |
3 |
20% |
| 2011 |
46 |
28 |
156% |
Potential [edit]
In early 2010, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory released the first comprehensive update of wind energy potential by state since 1993, showing that Massachusetts had potential to install 1,028 MW of onshore wind power, using 80 meter high wind turbines,[9] and 1,913 MW of 100 MW wind turbines could achieve 30% or better capacity factor - and of those, almost 500 MW could reach a capacity factor of 40%.[10]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
External links [edit]
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