California forging ahead with wind energy

Ontario now has 1,500 MW of installed wind capacity: California ranks 3rd in the US with 4,000 MW.

The California Wind Energy Association (CalWEA) reports that wind energy now accounts for 5 per cent of the state’s total electricity. In 2011, 921 MW were added to the supply, enough to power 400,000 households. California’s total wind capacity now stands at nearly 4,000 MW. It ranks third in the US in total wind capacity.

This is hailed as a “banner” achievement, one that pushes California closer to achieving its goal of 33 per cent renewable energy, according to CalWEA’s executive director, Nancy Rader.  

The American Wind Energy Association reports that the US wind industry installed 6,810 MW nationwide in 2011, an increase of 31 per cent over 2010 installations. The total capacity is now 46,919 MW and there are over 100 wind projects currently under construction in 31 states.

In Ontario, which leads Canada in implementing wind energy, the present wind capacity is 1,500 MW. The government has set a target of 10,700 MW of renewable energy from wind, solar and bioenergy by 2018. So far, Ontario has brought 9,000 MW of “clean” energy online, enough to power cities the size of Toronto and Ottawa, according to the government’s Newsroom.