Energy And Environment In Los Angeles, CA

Last year, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in an alliance with General Electric, went forward with a 120 megawatt wind farm, named the Pine Tree Wind Project. It is supposed to ultimately satisfy 20 percent of the utility's energy requirements.

During the year 2004, wind energy in the entire state of California produced greater than 4,200 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, approximately 1.5 percent of all electricity generated. About 95 percent of all of the state's wind generating apparatus is located in three areas: Altamont Pass, San Gorgonio and Tehachapi.

Wind power plants are comprised of turbines that make use of the energy in wind motion to create mechanical energy, which is then changed into electrical energy. Wind turbines can be utilized by farms, homes and businesses in breezy locations, such as along the Los Angeles coast. Turbines can also be used in areas where it isn't cost-efficient to place power lines.

The components of a wind farm include turbines, distribution through an underground power conduit and a connection from the farm to the nearest power grid. Wind power is more obtainable in certain seasons because the climate affects wind speed. In Los Angeles, speeds are greatest in the scorching summer months. An estimated three-fourths of all yearly wind energy is generated during the spring and summer.

Though power created by older wind turbines is not as cost effective as some other forms of energy generation, new generation wind turbine designs should be able to compete with power costs from nuclear and coal plants.

Some of the advantages in utilizing wind energy include: replacement of polluting conventional power plants; leaves no pollution in the air, soil or water; it is completely renewable; the installment is relatively swift; and energy production not affected by gas and oil price increases.

However, there are some areas of concern with wind power, such as: the necessary use of extensive areas of land, albeit the fact that simultaneous land uses are available for such endeavors as agriculture and cattle grazing. Other potential problems are that it can cause erosion in desert areas, and disrupt wildlife habitats.