Wind power in Pennsylvania

In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, wind power is one of the primary sources of renewable energy, and accounts for over one third of the state's renewable energy production. There are more than 27 wind farms currently operating in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Theoretically, the energetic development of these wind farms could provide power for nearly 350,000 homes, or 1,300 megawatts. A majority of the farms are located in the southwest-central and northeastern regions of the state. Pennsylvania is an East Coast leader in wind energy due to its natural wind resources and governmental incentives brought on by the state. There is a lot of potential for growth within the wind power industry in Pennsylvania and the Northeast. Despite being one of the few landlocked states in the Mid-Atlantic region, Pennsylvania is close to several offshore sites along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

Wind power is environmentally friendly. It is efficient to create and sustain because it creates 31 times more energy than it requires during the manufacturing process and over its 20-year lifetime.

If all wind energy potential in Pennsylvania were developed with utility-scale wind turbines, the power produced each year would be enough to supply 6.4% of the state's current electricity consumption.State wind energy fact sheet - Pennsylvania, American Wind Energy Association, Dec. 2011 In 2016, the state had 1369 megawatts (MW) of wind powered electricity generating capacity, responsible for 1.6% of in-state electricity production. This increased to 1459 MW in 2020.Wind Energy in Pennsylvania

History

In 2000, Pennsylvania's first commercial wind farm, the Green Mountain Wind Energy Center, was completed in Somerset County, but deactivated in 2015.

In 2006, the state legislature ruled that wind turbines and related equipment may not be included in property-tax assessments. Instead, the sites of wind facilities are assessed for their income-capitalization value.

In 2007, Montgomery County became the first wind-powered county in the nation, with a two-year commitment to buy 100 percent of its electricity from a combination of wind energy and renewable energy credits derived from wind energy.

Voluntary agreements with wind energy companies in Pennsylvania have been signed by The Pennsylvania Game Commission to avoid, minimize, and potentially mitigate any adverse impacts the development and production of wind energy may have on the state's wildlife resources.

Many smaller wind farms in Pennsylvania are operated by NextEra Energy Resources, based in Florida.

Wind farms

Wind farmCountyNumber of turbinesTurbine capacity (MW)Farm capacity (MW)SomersetSomerset61.59.0Mill RunFayette101.515.0WaymartWayne431.564.5MeyersdaleSomerset201.530.0Bear CreekLuzerne122.024.0Locust Ridge ISchuylkill132.026.0Allegheny RidgeCambria, Blair402.080.0CasselmanSomerset231.534.5ForwardSomerset142.129.4LookoutSomerset182.137.8Locust Ridge IIColumbia, Schuylkill512.0102.0HighlandCambria252.562.5North AlleghenyCambria, Blair352.070Armenia MountainTioga, Bradford671.5100.5Stony CreekSomerset351.552.5Chestnut FlatsBlair192.038South ChestnutFayette232.046Turkey Point Wind Project (Frey Farm Wind)Lancaster21.63.2Highland NorthCambria302.575Sandy RidgeBlair, Centre252.050Twin RidgesSomerset682.05139.4Laurel HillLycoming302.369.0PattonCambria152.030MehoopanyWyoming881.6140.8Ringer HillSomerset142.8539.9Big LevelPotter253.690Total751 1459

Location map

Installed capacity and wind resources

In recent years, there have been advancements in both on and offshore wind power in Pennsylvania. At least 1300 MW of wind power is currently installed at the 27 wind farms in the state. According to the U.S. energy information administration, 1 MW of wind power can power about 650 average American homes.

Offshore wind power has been proposed on the state's limited shoreline on Lake Erie.

Wind generation Pennsylvania wind generation (GWh, million kWh) Year Total Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2001 12 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2002 59 9 5 7 6 5 3 3 2 3 4 7 5 2003 112 7 7 6 7 6 3 4 2 4 8 18 40 2004 307 41 29 31 32 21 16 14 12 17 24 30 40 2005 283 26 27 33 26 19 15 12 11 15 26 37 36 2006 360 37 38 39 31 27 19 19 18 22 37 27 46 2007 470 49 45 51 45 26 30 23 22 26 46 46 61 2008 727 77 60 69 59 65 40 27 30 35 69 87 109 2009 1,076 57 69 53 60 74 43 46 43 92 127 178 234 2010 1,966 224 190 176 151 128 116 77 73 132 186 179 222 2011 1,796 174 212 215 217 114 92 69 90 87 144 195 187 2012 2,129 252 194 207 209 107 150 106 76 120 206 207 294 2013 3,352 356 336 396 363 294 202 121 128 158 240 405 353 2014 3,536 403 332 402 398 227 158 175 161 178 354 397 351 2015 3,353 391 314 416 348 206 230 132 118 156 317 363 361 2016 3,476 412 387 355 274 184 215 155 149 179 338 370 458 2017 3,590 307 327 377 361 322 274 223 183 249 341 317 309 2018 3,566 412 386 292 334 288 219 206 200 221 330 341 337 2019 3,252 346 297 339 329 230 243 169 176 193 287 278 365 2020 3,748 387 331 381 374 341 203 151 180 213 306 437 444 2021 3,536 319 319 403 340 272 227 184 184 265 287 341 395 2022 3,767 363 373 400 369 310 247 209 182 235 315 400 364 2023 1,111 328 394 389

Teal background indicates the largest wind generation month for the year.

Green background indicates the largest wind generation month to date.

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Wind power in Pennsylvania

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