| In 2006, the Los Angeles Department of Water | | | | grid. Wind power is more accessible in certain |
| and Power in conjunction with General Electric, | | | | seasons because the climate affects wind speed. |
| went ahead with a 120 megawatt wind farm, | | | | In Los Angeles, speeds are greatest in the |
| named the Pine Tree Wind Project. It is hoped | | | | sweltering summer months. An estimated |
| that it will one day satisfy 20 percent of the | | | | three-fourths of all yearly wind power is |
| utility's energy demands. | | | | generated during the spring and summer. |
| Back in 2004, wind energy in the entire state of | | | | Though power created by old generation wind |
| California produced greater than 4,200 million | | | | turbines is not as cost effective as some other |
| kilowatt-hours of electricity, approximately 1.5 | | | | forms of energy generation, newer wind turbine |
| percent of all electricity generated. About 95 | | | | designs should be able to compete with power |
| percent of all of the state's wind generating | | | | costs from nuclear and coal plants. |
| apparatus is located in three areas: Altamont Pass, | | | | Some advantages in utilizing wind energy include: |
| San Gorgonio and Tehachapi. | | | | non-deployment of polluting conventional power |
| Wind power plants are comprised of turbines that | | | | plants; leaves no pollution in the air, soil or water; |
| take advantage of the energy in wind motion to | | | | it is completely renewable; the installment is |
| make mechanical energy, which is then converted | | | | relatively swift; and power production not |
| into electrical energy. Wind turbines can be utilized | | | | affected by gas and oil price increases. |
| by farms, homes and businesses in breezy | | | | However, there are some areas of concern with |
| locations, such as along the California coast. | | | | wind power, such as: the required use of large |
| Turbines are deployable in areas where it isn't | | | | tracts of land, although simultaneous land uses are |
| cost-efficient to run power lines. | | | | available for such tasks as agriculture and cattle |
| The parts of a wind farm include turbines, which | | | | grazing. Other potential concerns are that it can |
| feed through an underground power conduit and a | | | | cause erosion in desert areas, and disturb wildlife |
| connection from the farm to the closest power | | | | habitats. |