Harvesting the wind
This paper describes the wind farms in the Altamont Pass, the Tehachapi Mountains, and the San Gorgonio pass, all in California. The threat by Congress to eliminate federal tax credits could put the fledgling industry in the doldrums. The author shows how the selection of the right wind site can make the difference between a profitable venture and an expensive kinetic sculpture. To improve reliability wind-farm developers have turned to more durable Danish turbines from Zond, Windmatic, and Bonus. Recent research under DOE sponsorship has studied large-scale MOD-2 machines built by Boeing, several of which are now operating at a PGandL site north of San Francisco. The result of recent new standards may require the filing of quarterly reports on machine capacity, performance, and the amounts of electricity produced from the installation.
- Research Organization:
- Robert D. Kahn Inc., Davis, CA
- OSTI ID:
- 6057746
- Journal Information:
- Technol. Rev.; (United States), Vol. 87:8
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
CALIFORNIA
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
WIND POWER
CAPACITY
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
PRODUCTIVITY
REGULATIONS
RELIABILITY
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
SITE SELECTION
STANDARDS
WIND TURBINES
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION IX
MACHINERY
NORTH AMERICA
POWER
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
USA
170604* - Wind Energy Engineering- Site Characteristics