Wind Energy in California
Find wind data and information in California, including maps, capacity, ordinances, and more in these areas:
Capacity & Generation
Installed Capacity 6,194 MW Source: American Clean Power Association
MW Under Construction 104 MW Source: American Clean Power Association
Based on EIA data from 2022
U.S. Wind Turbine Database
The United States Wind Turbine Database (USWTDB) provides the locations of land-based and offshore wind turbines in the United States, corresponding wind project information, and turbine technical specifications. The creation of this database was jointly funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office via the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Electricity Markets and Policy Group, the U.S. Geological Survey Energy Resources Program, and the American Wind Energy Association.
Wind Education & Training
Career training and projects at schools in California.
Training Locations
Airstreams Renewables, Inc.
College of the Desert
Santa Clara University
U.C. Davis
Stanford University
Cal Maritime Academy
Humboldt State University
Rio Hondo College
Wind for Schools Project Locations
There are no Wind for Schools projects in California.
Policies & Incentives
34 local wind energy ordinances
California Incentives
View current California renewable energy incentives on the DSIRE website.
Renewable Portfolio Standard
CA Cities with 100% Renewable Energy Commitments
- Berkeley - 2050
- Chula Vista - 2035
- Culver City - Residences and businesses will be powered by 100% renewable energy in 2019 via the LA County Community Choice Energy Program
- Del Mar - 2035
- Encinitas - 2030
- Eureka - 2025
- Goleta - 2030
- La Mesa - 2035
- Menlo Park - 2030
- Monterey - 2040
- Nevada City - Electricity by 2030, heating and transportation by 2050
- Ojai - 2019
- Oxnard - 2019
- Palo Alto - Electricity since 2013
- Portola Valley - 2019
- Rolling Hills Estates - 2019
- San Diego - 2035
- San Francisco - 2030
- San Jose - 2050
- San Luis Obispo - 2035
- Santa Barbara - 2030
- Santa Monica - 2019
- Solana Beach - 2035
- South Lake Tahoe - 2032
- South Pasadena - 2019
- Thousand Oaks - 2030
- Truckee - Electricity by 2020, all energy sources by 2050
- Ventura - 2019
- West Hollywood - 2019
WETO R&D Projects
To view a list of wind research and development projects in California funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office, visit the Wind R&D Projects Map and select California from the dropdown menu.
Wind Turbine Component Manufacturers
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Wind Prospector tool is a web-based Geographical Information System that supports resource assessment and data exploration for wind development. Wind Prospector includes a data layer dedicated to the locations of U.S. wind turbine and component manufacturing and supply chain facilities. Corporate headquarters, service facilities, material suppliers, R&D and logistics centers, and smaller component manufacturers (e.g., bolt manufacturers) are not included. The list of facilities included is not intended to be exhaustive.
California Offices & Organizations
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management State Activities
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has seen strong interest in offshore renewable energy projects on the Outer Continental Shelf. BOEM works closely with certain coastal states regarding offshore energy development and is in the process of coordinating federal-state task forces. A summary of the status of activity in the different states is available.
California Energy Commission: WInd Energy in California
The California Energy Commission hosts this website that provides wind energy statistics and data, an introduction to wind energy for kids, wind resource maps, and details on the state's renewable energy programs.
California Offshore Wind Energy Gateway
The Offshore Renewable Wind Energy Gateway assembles geospatial information on ocean wind resources, ecological and natural resources, ocean commercial and recreational uses, and community values. This information will help identify areas off California that are potentially suitable for wind energy generation.
California Wind Energy Association
CalWEA is a non-profit corporation supported by members of the wind energy industry, including turbine manufacturers, project developers and owners, component suppliers, support contractors, and others.
Clean Energy Group
Clean Energy Group is a leading national, nonprofit organization working on innovative policy, technology, and finance programs in the areas of clean energy and climate change. The group's projects concentrate on climate and clean energy issues at the state, national, and international levels and include stakeholders from governments and the private and nonprofit sectors. Clean Energy Group assists states to create and implement innovative practices and public funding programs for clean energy project deployment; creates networks of U.S. and international policy makers to address climate stabilization strategies; and advances effective distributed innovation theories, finance, and commercialization tools for new climate technologies.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
The Electricity Markets & Policy Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory focuses on renewable power generation. Although the research emphasis is wind and solar power, much of the work is crosscutting and applicable to a range of renewable energy technologies. The majority of the laboratory's work lies within the following four core areas: renewable energy policy analysis and assistance; cost, benefit, and market analysis; grid operations and infrastructure impacts; and public acceptance.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory offers the following wind research facilities to meet industry needs:
- -The High-Performance Computing Innovation Center, which provides companies with access to supercomputers, software, and domain expertise, as well as practiced guidance on the application of advanced computing technologies. From design simulations to analysis, the Center can help the wind energy industry with forecasting, computational modeling, software improvement, data analytics, and engineering design
- -The Site 300 Testing Facility, a 7,000-acre experimental test site located in the complex terrain of California’s Altamont Pass wind resource area. The site’s geographic location makes it ideal for wind resource studies.
Publications
April 30, 2019
July 3, 2017
April 13, 2017
April 12, 2017
March 31, 2017