Los Angeles Mayor Announces Plan to Build 120-Megawatt Wind Facility

National Wind Energy Trade Group Praises Hahn’s Decision

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) today commended Los Angeles Mayor Jim Hahn for his proposal to construct a new 120-megawatt (MW) wind energy facility in the Mojave Desert. When completed in the summer of 2004, the facility will produce clean, renewable electricity for as many as 100,000 customers of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the nation’s largest public utility.

“Mayor Hahn’s smart decision to add wind energy to the power mix for the nation’s largest public utility sends another strong signal that wind energy is a reality today,” said AWEA Deputy Executive Director Tom Gray. “In addition to its numerous environmental benefits, wind energy is good business as well: this new facility will save the city money and provide a reliable, affordable source of energy for decades to come.”

The Pine Tree Wind Project will consist of 80 General Electric 1.5-MW wind turbines and be installed on approximately 22,000 acres of land located 12 miles north of Mojave, Calif. The construction of the wind facility marks the first time LADWP will utilize wind energy to produce power for its customers. LADWP has been working with Mayor Hahn and the City Council to determine the best renewable options for development by the city and AWEA is pleased to see that wind was the first such option selected.

“LADWP often plays a leadership role in energy policy at the state and national levels, and its decision to utilize wind energy for its newest power facility is a strong indication of the growing support for wind energy from coast to coast,” Gray added. “We look forward to working with LADWP General Manager David Wiggs on this and other wind projects in the future.”

California is currently the number one wind-energy-producing state in the United States, with facilities statewide amounting to 1,822 MW of wind generating capacity. The total installed capacity of wind energy in the United States at the end of 2002 was more than 4,600 MW or enough to serve more than 1.2 million households. AWEA estimates that wind energy will provide six percent of the nation’s electricity by 2020.

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AWEA, formed in 1974, is the national trade association of the U.S. wind energy
industry. The association’s membership of more than 700 includes turbine
manufacturers, wind project developers, utilities, academicians, and interested
individuals from 49 states. More information on wind energy is available from the home page
of the AWEA web site: http://www.awea.org

http://www.awea.org/news/news030203lad.html