Progress of wind energy developments in California
California has, as one of its energy goals, the production of 10 percent of its electricity needs by wind turbines in the year 2000. As support for this energy policy, the California Energy Commission has undertaken a vigorous wind energy assessment program throughout the state. While this assessment is still continuing, over 13,000 MWe of potential wind turbine sites have already been identified. The growth of the wind energy industry in California has been spectacular. Statewide windfarm installed capacity has risen from essentially no wind turbines operating connected to the grid in 1979 to over 120 MWe operating by the end of this year. Over 20 different manufacturers are represented by 3000 currently operating wind turbines. The near-term future of wind energy developments look optimistic. The electric utilities in the state have almost 1,000 MWe of wind turbines in their resource plans by 1987, representing the installation of over 7,000 wind turbines. Three factors are primarily responsible for the development of wind energy in the state. An aggressive stance on the part of the California Public Utilities Commission and the Energy Commission has encouraged the utilities in the state to actively seek non-utility generation sources. This emphasis, plus the requirement to pay full utility avoided costs to qualifying generation facilities has greatly encouraged the development of windfarms. Second, available tax credits (10 percent Federal Investment Tax Credit, 15 percent Federal Energy Tax Credit, and 24 percent California Solar Energy Credit), allow the wind turbine investor to recoup up to 50 percent of the initial investment costs through income tax credits. Third, wind turbines qualify for a five-year accellerated depreciation under current depreciation schedules. These benefits, combined with high utility avoided cost payments and mandatory utility interconnections make the wind industry in California the largest in the world.
- Research Organization:
- California Energy Commission, Sacramento, CA
- OSTI ID:
- 6545167
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-831205-
- Journal Information:
- Alternative Energy Sources; (United States), Journal Name: Alternative Energy Sources; (United States); ISSN ALESD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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CALIFORNIA
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
ELECTRIC POWER
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION IX
MACHINERY
NORTH AMERICA
POWER
POWER GENERATION
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SERVICE LIFE
TAX CREDITS
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
USA
WIND POWER
WIND TURBINES