Wind Energy in California

Wind energy, an integral part of California's electricity portfolio, is needed to help meet the state's Renewables Portfolio Standard, which requires utilities to procure 50 percent of retail sales from renewable sources by 2020 and 60 percent by 2030. Wind projects extend from Imperial County in the south to Shasta County in the north.
  • The majority of wind turbines are in six regions: Altamont, East San Diego County, Pacheco, Solano, San Gorgonio, and Tehachapi.
  • Modern wind turbines are 30 times larger in size and capacity than older turbines, and technological advances have made wind energy a cost-competitive and grid-friendly source of electricity
  • The cost of producing wind energy has decreased nearly fourfold since 1980, according to the Electric Power Research Institute.
  • Wind energy is the country’s fourth-largest source of electric capacity, behind natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy.

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California Power Generation and Power Sources

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Renewable

California Energy Commission
715 P Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

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