Alta Wind Energy Center

The Alta Wind Energy Center (AWEC; also known as Mojave Wind Farm) is a wind farm located in Tehachapi Pass of the Tehachapi Mountains, in Kern County, California. As of 2022, it is the largest wind farm in the United States, with a combined installed capacity of . The project, being developed near Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm— site of the first large-scale wind farms installed in the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s—is "a powerful illustration of the growing size and scope of modern wind projects".Terra-Gen bags $631m for more phases at California's Alta Wind Renewable Energy World, 29 July 2010.World's Largest Wind Project is Underway Recharge, June 3, 2011

Southern California Edison has agreed to a 25-year power purchase agreement for the power produced as part of the power purchase agreements for up to 1500 MW or more of power generated from new projects to be built in the Tehachapi area. The project will "reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 5.2 million metric tons, which is equivalent to taking 446,000 cars off the road". A total of 3000 MW is planned.

The wind farm was developed by Terra-Gen Power which closed a US$1.2 billion financing deal in July 2010 with partners that included Citibank, Barclays Capital, and Credit Suisse. After many delays, the first phase began construction in 2010. Financing for additional phases of $650 million was secured in April 2012. Construction of the Alta Wind Energy Center is expected to create more than 3,000 domestic manufacturing, construction, and maintenance jobs, and contribute more than one billion dollars to the local economy.

History

The original "Alta-Oak Creek Mojave Project" plan consisted of up to 320 wind turbines occupying a area while producing 800 MW of power. That project was originally developed by Oak Creek Energy Systems under the contract with Terra-Gen, but the project development was later transferred to Terra-Gen. The project then became the first development under the umbrella of Alta Wind Energy Center.

The Alta-Oak Creek Mojave Project is generally located at the south side of the log Creek Road, starting a few miles west of the state route 14 in Mojave and continuing westward along the Oak Creek Road to the west side of the Tehachapi-Willow Springs Road.

According to the American Wind Energy Association, two initial projects were completed in fall 2010, the 150 MW Alta II (Vestas) project using 50 3 MW generators and the 150 MW Alta I project using 100 1.5 MW generators.California U.S. Wind Energy Projects - California , AWEA, Oct 22, 2010 Three subsequent projects 150 MW Alta III, 102 MW Alta IV, and 168 MW Alta V projects were completed in the 2nd quarter of 2011 using 50, 34, and 56 3 MW Vestas V-90 wind turbines. Alta VIII and Alta VI projects, comprising 300 MW, were completed in late 2011/early 2012, but they were renamed Brookfield Tehachapi 2 and Mustang Hills respectively. Alta VII and IX projects comprising 300 MW, were completed in December 2012 (bringing the total to 1320 MW), but they were renamed to Pinyon Pines Wind I and Pinyon Pines Wind II.

138 MW Alta X and 90 MW Alta XI are under development with scheduled completion in late 2013, 180 MW Alta XIII in 2019.

Overview

Plant Operator Capacity (MW) Commissioned Cost, $ Alta Wind Energy Center I Terra-Gen Operating Co 150 Jan 2011 394 million Alta Wind Energy Center II Terra-Gen Operating Co 150 Jan 2011 1200 million (units II-V) Alta Wind Energy Center III Terra-Gen Operating Co 150 Feb 2011 Alta Wind Energy Center IV Terra-Gen Operating Co 102 Apr 2011 Alta Wind Energy Center V Terra-Gen Operating Co 168 Apr 2011 Everpower Wind Holdings Mustang Hills (Alta Wind VI) 150 May 2012 631 million (with unit VIII) Pinyon Pines Wind I Pinyon Pine I (Alta Wind VII) 168 Nov 2012 650 million (with unit IX) Alta Wind VIII Brookfield Energy Marketing 150 Jan 2012 Pinyon Pines Wind II Pinyon Pine II (Alta Wind IX) 132 Nov 2012 Alta Wind X Terra-Gen Operating Co 138 Jan 2014 Alta Wind XI Terra-Gen Operating Co 90 Jan 2014

Electricity production

+Alta Wind Farm Generation (MW·h) Year Alta I150 MW Alta II150 MW Alta III150 MW Alta IV102 MW Alta V168 MW Alta VI150 MW Alta VII168 MW Alta VIII150 MW Alta IX132 MW Alta X138 MW Alta XI90 MW Total AnnualMW·h 2011 395,703 336,193 364,270 149,373 239,021 - - - - - - 1,484,560 2012 353,793 296,135 318,407 150,322 243,738 181,718 18,115 - 12,689 - - 1,574,917 2013 398,985 348,908 361,051 178,777 283,238 302,869 363,653 285,358 258,485 - - 2,781,324 2014 403,255 328,958 349,245 168,320 269,901 304,728 365,507 282,719 255,597 328,080 249,985 3,306,295 2015 341,120 279,829 300,282 134,744 220,012 252,832 288,517 231,524 202,586 309,408 222,142 2,782,996 2016 413,363 360,216 380,465 183,393 293,378 314,587 346,699 294,789 250,438 364,926 276,368 3,478,622 2017 366,518 325,932 350,502 162,752 263,466 289,326 319,578 251,380 230,440 340,379 248,865 3,149,1382018399,302349,772361,029178,715284,839303,482339,370270,077244,263373,532261,3863,365,7672019366,019366,720261,255150,299311,896264,116275,335237,117203,749366,641246,6863,049,833 Average Annual Production (years 2014–2019) 3,188,775

See also

Tehachapi Wind Resource Area Wind power in California Wind power in the United States Ivanpah Solar Power Facility

References

External links Cleanenergyactionproject.com: Alta Wind Energy Center