Wind power in Pennsylvania
This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. (April 2013) |
There are more than twenty wind power projects operating in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and several future wind farms planned or under construction. The most productive wind energy regions generally fall in mountain or coastal terrains. The northern portion of the Appalachian chain, including most of Southwestern Pennsylvania, is one of the areas with the highest potential for wind energy in the Eastern United States. The mountain ridges of central and northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Poconos in the eastern part of the state, offer some of the best wind resources in the region.[1]
If all wind energy potential in Pennsylvania was developed with utility-scale wind turbines, the power produced each year would be enough to supply 6.4% of the state's current electricity consumption.[2] As of 2010, Pennsylvania ranks 15th in the nation in the production of wind power.[3] 24 wind projects currently operating in Pennsylvania have an installed capacity of 1,334.5 MW and generate about 3,507 gigawatt-hours per year (GWh/yr), enough to power nearly 390,000 homes, less than 1% of the state consumption.[citation needed]
In 2006, Pennsylvania's legislature ruled that wind turbines and related equipment may not be included in property-tax assessments. Instead, the sites of wind facilities are assessed for their income-capitalization value.[citation needed]
In 2007, Montgomery County became the first wind-powered county in the nation, with a two-year commitment to buy 100 percent of its electricity from a combination of wind energy and renewable energy credits derived from wind energy.[3][citation needed]
In 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honored Swarthmore, Pennsylvania as a Green Power Community — the only one in the Eastern United States - for its commitment to buy clean energy generated from wind turbines in mountainous region of western Pennsylvania.[4]
In 2012, a coalition of wind farm developers, owner, operators, their supporters, and retail suppliers joined together to form ChoosePAWind. This coalition's goal is to educate Pennsylvanians about the environmental and economic benefits of supplying energy from local wind farms.
Many smaller wind farms in Pennsylvania are operated by NextEra Energy Resources, based in Florida.[5]
Wind farms
Name | Turbines | Capacity (MW) |
Power (MW·hr/yr) |
Location (county) |
Year Operational |
Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allegheny Ridge Wind Farm | 40 | 80 | 210,240[6] | Blair and Cambria |
2007 | Operational |
Armenia Mountain Wind Farm | 67 | 101 | unknown | Tioga and Bradford |
2010[7] | Operational |
Bear Creek Wind Power Project | 12 | 24 | 70,000[8] | Luzerne | 2006 | Operational |
Casselman Wind Power Project | 23 | 34.5 | 90,666[6] | Somerset | 2007 | Operational |
Chestnut Flats Wind Farm | 19 | 38 | unknown | Blair and Cambria |
2011 | Operational |
South Chestnut Wind Project | 23 | 46 | unknown | Fayette | 2011 | Operational |
Forward Wind Project | 14 | 29.4 | 77,263[6] | Somerset | 2008 | Operational |
Green Mountain Wind Energy Center | 8 | 10.4 | 27,331[6] | Somerset | 2000 | Operational |
Highland Wind Project | 25 | 62.5 | unknown | Cambria | 2009 | Operational |
Laurel Hill Wind Energy Project | 30 | 69 | unknown | Lycoming | 2012 | Operational |
Locust Ridge I | 13 | 26 | 68,328[9] | Schuylkill | 2004 | Operational |
Locust Ridge II | 51 | 102 | 268,056[6][10] | Columbia and Schuylkill |
2008 | Operational |
Lookout Wind Project | 18 | 37.8 | 99,338[6] | Somerset | 2008 | Operational |
Mehoopany Wind Farm | 88[11] | 140.8[11] | Unknown | Wyoming | 2012 | Operational |
Meyersdale Wind Power Project | 20 | 30 | 78,840[6] | Somerset | 2003 | Operational |
Mill Run Wind Energy Center | 10 | 15 | 39,420[6] | Fayette | 2001 | Operational |
North Allegheny Wind Farm | 35 | 70[12] | unknown | Blair and Cambria |
2009 | Operational |
Patton Wind Farm | 15[13] | 30 | unknown | Cambria | 2012 | Operational |
Rausch Creek Wind Farm | 50-60[14] | 100-120 | unknown | Schuylkill | Planned | |
Sandy Ridge Wind Farm | 25 | 50[15] | unknown | Centre | 2012 | Operational |
Stonycreek Wind Farm | 35 | 52.5[16] | unknown | Somerset | 2009 | Operational |
Somerset Wind Farm | 6 | 9 | 23,652[6] | Somerset | 2001 | Operational |
Twin Ridges Wind Farm | 68[17] | 140 | unknown | Somerset | 2012 | Operational |
Waymart Wind Farm | 43 | 64.5 | 169,506[6][18] | Wayne | 2003 | Operational |
Kimberly Run Wind Project | 40 | 80 | unknown[19] | Somerset | Proposed | |
Mason Dixon Wind Project | 30 | 60 | unknown[20] | Somerset | Proposed |
Location map
Installed capacity and wind resources
The graph at left shows the end of year wind generation capacity growth from 2002 until 2011.
On February 11, 2010, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory released the first comprehensive update of the wind energy potential by state since 1993, showing that Pennsylvania had potential to install up to about 3,300 MW of onshore wind power nameplate capacity at 80m, which would generate enough clean power annually to meet the energy needs of 1,168,000 homes, or 7,200 MW at 100m, capable of generating 21,200 GWh/year.[23][24] Despite the state's limited shoreline, on Lake Erie, Pennsylvania has the potential to install up to 5,670 MW of offshore wind turbines in an area of 1,135 square kilometres (438 sq mi), capable of generating 23,571 GWh/year.[25] Offshore wind turbines tend to have a higher capacity factor than onshore wind turbines.
Wind generation
Pennsylvania Wind Generation (GWh, Million kWh) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Total | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
2009 | 1,075 | 79 | 74 | 82 | 83 | 80 | 58 | 49 | 55 | 92 | 127 | 178 | 234 |
2010 | 1,854 | 203 | 167 | 174 | 166 | 141 | 121 | 88 | 89 | 132 | 186 | 179 | 222 |
2011 | 1,968 | 171 | 206 | 202 | 226 | 146 | 130 | 79 | 107 | 87 | 144 | 195 | 205 |
2012 | 265 | 202 | 217 | 220 | 137 | 165 | 114 | 90 | 126 | 209 | 202 |
See also
- Climate of Pennsylvania
- List of power stations in Pennsylvania
- List of wind farms in the United States
- List of wind turbine manufacturers
- Renewable energy industry
- Renewable energy in the United States
- Renewable energy law in Pennsylvania
- Wind power in the United States
References
- ^ A new crop takes root accessed March 1, 2010.
- ^ State wind energy fact sheet - Pennsylvania, American Wind Energy Association, Dec. 2011
- ^ a b Pennsylvania profile ((secondary source)) Natural Resources Defense Council, accessed March 1, 2010.
- ^ Town in Pennsylvania Catches Wind of Clean Energy Future April 7, 2009. Accessed March 2, 2010.
- ^ Wind Farms in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Wind Working Group, accessed March 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wind farms in Pennsylvania Penn Futures: Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future, accessed March 3, 2010.
- ^ AES Wind Generation Announces Commercial Operation of Armenia Mountain Wind Farm, U.S. AES press release, January 4, 2010. Accessed March 6, 2010.
- ^ Wind Farms in Pennsylvania accessed March 2, 2010.
- ^ Locust Ridge Wind Farm in Pennsylvania accessed March 1, 2010.
- ^ 51 windmills will top local mountain; Massive project to stretch 10 miles March 23, 2008. Accessed March 1, 2010.
- ^ a b Renewable Energy Systems America, accessed July 28, 2013
- ^ Duke Energy steps up US wind farm development July 6, 2009. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- ^ Patton Wind Farm Accessed August 26, 2011.
- ^ Residents, company talk wind turbine plans for Rausch Creek Pottsville Republican & Herald, December 16, 2009. Accessed March 26, 2010.
- ^ Gamesa moves turbine blades Gamesa moves turbine blades. Accessed August 26, 2012.
- ^ U.S Wind Energy Projects, Pennsylvania American Wind Energy Association, December 31, 2009. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- ^ [1] 68-turbine wind farm to be constructed in Somerset Co. , accessed August 26, 2012.
- ^ Waymart Wind Farm Safeway Wind Energy, accessed March 1, 2010.
- ^ [2] Everpower Wind Holdings, accessed January 28, 2015.
- ^ [3] Everpower Wind Holdings, accessed February 9, 2015.
- ^ "Wind Powering America: Installed U.S. Wind Capacity and Wind Project Locations". U.S. Department of Energy. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- ^ "AWEA 4th quarter 2011 Public Market Report" (PDF). American Wind Energy Association(AWEA). January 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
- ^ "Estimates of Windy Land Area and Wind Energy Potential by State for Areas >= 30% Capacity Factor at 80m" (XLS). National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 2010-02-04. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
- ^ "Pennsylvania Wind Activities". National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 2010-02-19. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
- ^ Renewable Energy Technical Potential
- ^ EIA (July 27, 2012). "Electric Power Monthly Table 1.17.A." United States Department of Energy. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
- ^ EIA (July 27, 2012). "Electric Power Monthly Table 1.17.B." United States Department of Energy. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
External links
- Pennsylvania Wind Working Group
- PA Wind Map, regional non-profit organization that promotes responsible energy use in homes and other buildings throughout Pennsylvania.
- Penn Future: Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future profile on Wind farms in Pennsylvania.