Wind power in Utah explained

Wind power in Utah is in the early stages of development. As of 2016 the state had 391 MW of wind generation capacity, responsible for 2.6% of in-state electricity generation.[1] Wind thus plays a small role in the state's renewable portfolio standard goals.[2] [3]

A 2009 Utah Renewable Energy Zone Taskforce estimated that the state could produce over 9,000 megawatts of wind power. As about 80% of Utah's population is concentrated along the foot of the Wasatch Front mountain range, reliable and predictable canyon winds offer opportunities for wind power generation and efficient wind energy distribution without long-distance transmission.[4] [5] [6]

Utah Power, now PacifiCorp, launched the Blue Sky Program in 2000 to encourage users to purchase imported wind power, with the option of purchasing 100-kilowatt hour (kWh) "blocks" of renewable energy for a monthly fee through their electricity bills.[7] In 2003, radio station KZMU in southeast Utah began operating solely on wind power.[8] Kinkos also participates.[9] PacifiCorp, the major provider in Utah, imports much of its renewable energy into the state and does not intend to build instate facilities before at least 2024.[10] [11]

Wind farms

The first utility-scale wind farm was built at Spanish Fork in 2008.[12] [13]

The 306 MW Milford Wind Corridor Project has been the largest wind farm in Utah since its completion in 2011.

Statistics

Utah Wind Generation Capacity by Year
ImageSize = width:290 height:auto barincrement:20PlotArea = left:36 bottom:20 top:10 right:10AlignBars = justifyPeriod = from:0 till:600TimeAxis = orientation:horizontalScaleMajor = unit:year increment:250 start:0

PlotData= color:skyblue width:22 bar:1999 from:start till:0 text:0 bar:2000 from:start till:0.2 text:0.2 bar:2001 from:start till:0.2 text:0.2 bar:2002 from:start till:0.2 text:0.2 bar:2003 from:start till:0.2 text:0.2 bar:2004 from:start till:0.2 text:0.2 bar:2005 from:start till:0.9 text:0.9 bar:2006 from:start till:0.9 text:0.9 bar:2007 from:start till:0.9 text:0.9 bar:2008 from:start till:19.8 text:19.8 bar:2009 from:start till:223.3 text:223.3 bar:2010 from:start till:223.3 text:223.3 bar:2011 from:start till:325 text:325 bar:2012 from:start till:325 text:325 bar:2013 from:start till:325 text:325 bar:2014 from:start till:325 text:325 bar:2015 from:start till:327 text:327 bar:2016 from:start till:391 text:391 bar:2017 from:start till:391 text:391 bar:2018 from:start till:391 text:391 bar:2019 from:start till:391 text:391 bar:2020 from:start till:391 text:391

Megawatts of Installed Generating Capacity[14]
Utah Wind Generation (GWh, Million kWh)
YearTotalJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
200824 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 4 5 6
2009159 5 4 5 4 3 3 2 3 33 47 15 35
2010448 30 15 45 43 50 37 36 59 39 26 26 42
2011571 16 54 60 43 56 70 56 64 21 36 65 30
2012704 33 38 98 61 79 93 56 39 33 40 55 79
2013640 22 31 40 32 61 71 54 53 56 45 47 28
2014659 27 70 74 54 71 72 58 50 37 38 56 52
2015624 30 40 47 60 56 59 69 52 65 31 53 62
2016821 38 26 84 48 65 82 85 67 77 89 60 100
2017857 90 94 81 69 69 68 50 53 53 66 89 75
2018795 60 58 87 64 59 82 61 76 75 57 62 54
2019820 63 97 68 64 64 65 74 67 75 66 56 61
2020802 65 68 87 42 79 73 78 78 52 58 72 50
2021825 61 74 79 55 74 72 53 68 59 64 58 108
202260 60

Source:[15]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Utah Wind Energy. US Wind Energy State Facts. American Wind Energy Association. 27 December 2017.
  2. Web site: Renewable Energy in Utah. Acore. October 2013. 15 June 2015.
  3. Web site: State Renewable Portfolio Standards and Goals. National Association of State Legislatures. 19 February 2015. 2 June 2015.
  4. http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/Sustainability_2012-16pr.pdf Wind Power in Utah May 2013
  5. Web site: Utah/Wind Resources/Full Version. openei.org. 15 June 2015.
  6. Web site: WINDExchange: Utah Wind Resource Map and Potential Wind Capacity. energy.gov. 15 June 2015.
  7. https://www.rockymountainpower.net/bluesky Blue Sky (Rocky Mountain Power)
  8. Web site: KZMU - 100% Wind Powered. 18 February 2008.
  9. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kinkos-signs-up-for-utah-powers-blue-sky-wind-energy-77855692.html Kinkos Uses Blue Sky (PR News)
  10. http://www.pacificorp.com/content/dam/pacificorp/doc/Efficiency_Environment/PC_WindEnergyHandout.pdf PacifiCorp Wind Energy
  11. http://www.sltrib.com/56160773 SL Tribune
  12. http://www.resilience.org/stories/2011-05-13/harvesting-utah’s-urban-winds Harvesting Utah's Winds (Resilience.org, 13 May 2011)
  13. Web site: Spanish Fork will celebrate wind power - KSL.com. ksl.com. 15 June 2015.
  14. https://windexchange.energy.gov/maps-data/321 WINDExchange: U.S. Installed and Potential Wind Power Capacity and Generation
  15. Web site: Electricity Data Browser . U.S. Department of Energy . March 28, 2018 . August 29, 2021 .

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