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| Fig. 1: San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm (Source: Wikimedia Commons) |
The San Gorgonio Wind Pass Farm, located in Riverside County, California, is one of the first major wind farms established in the United States and remains a significant renewable energy project today (Fig. 1). Nestled between the San Jacinto and San Bernardino Mountains, the site leverages the strong and consistent winds passing through the San Gorgonio Pass, one of the windiest regions in the country. [1] Established in the early 1980s, the farm spans approximately 70 square miles and includes over 4,000 wind turbines of varying sizes and technologies. With a combined capacity of roughly 615 MW, the farm contributes significantly to California's renewable energy portfolio.
The San Gorgonio Wind Farm was among the pioneering projects to harness wind energy on a large scale in the U.S. At peak performance, its turbines generate enough electricity to power approximately 195,000 homes annually. [2] Wind energy is one of the cleanest energy sources available, producing no greenhouse gas emissions during operation. By replacing fossil fuel-based energy generation, the farm prevents the release of approximately 900,000 metric tons of CO2 annually. [3]
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| Fig. 2: San Gorgonio Wind Farm Total Turbine Share by year of Construction. [2] (Imaage Source: J. Finch) |
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| Fig. 3: San Gorgonio Wind Farm Total Output (MW) by year of completion of each project. [2] (Image Source: J. Finch) |
As of May 2024, the site houses 666 wind turbines with a combined rated capacity of 634 MW, spread across 25 distinct projects. [4] Notably, the reported capacity is likely an underestimate, as the official database reflects only the number of newly repowered turbines without fully accounting for their updated power output. At 634 MW, San Gorgonio is the third biggest California Wind Farm by total capcity (MW), behind Tehachapi (3,456 MW) and Solano (1,031 MW). The East San Diego and Altamont, while significant are smaller than San Gorgonio at 448 MW and 268 MW total capacity, respectively. At its peak in 1987, San Gorgonio operated over 4,200 smaller turbines. By December 2021, this number had been reduced to around 1,220 as a result of repowering efforts. Repowering involves replacing outdated, less efficient turbines with fewer, larger, and more advanced ones. [4] Fig. 2 shows the share of total megawatt output of all turbines based on the decade the turbine was constructed, and Fig. 3 shows the share of total number of turbines based on the decade of construction. Newer projects can provide higher energy output at a fraction of the turbine count, evident by the diagrams.
California's ambitious renewable energy goals, including achieving 100% clean energy by 2045, depend heavily on projects like San Gorgonio. In 2022, the state generated 13% of its electricity from wind, and the San Gorgonio Wind Pass Farm played a significant role in this achievement. [4] Wind farms like this one also help reduce reliance on water-intensive fossil fuel plants, a critical benefit for drought-prone California.
The location of the San Gorgonio Pass is particularly advantageous. The topography funnels high-speed winds through the valley, creating ideal conditions for wind energy generation. This natural advantage has made San Gorgonio one of the most efficient wind farms in the state. The sites proximity to the populous Los Angeles metropolitan area also reduces transmission losses compared to more remote wind energy projects. [2]
Gorgonio is a cornerstone of California's wind energy history, but it is not without competition. Nearby wind farms like Tehachapi and Altamont Pass have larger capacities and newer technology, pushing San Gorgonio to modernize. Over the years, many of the older, less efficient turbines at San Gorgonio have been replaced with modern ones that generate more power while taking up less space and posing less risk to wildlife.
The success of the San Gorgonio Wind Farm has also inspired increased investment in renewable energy across the state. However, the farm also contends with the intermittency of wind energy. While the winds in the San Gorgonio Pass are strong and reliable, they are not constant, and energy production fluctuates accordingly. To address this, California's energy grid incorporates energy storage and complementary sources like solar to balance supply and demand. [5]
The San Gorgonio Wind Pass Farm stands as a testament to the potential of wind energy in the United States. While it faces challenges, particularly in terms of wildlife impact and aesthetic concerns, its contributions to clean energy and emissions reduction are undeniable. As California continues to push toward a renewable energy future, San Gorgonio remains a vital part of the states clean energy infrastructure and a symbol of the pioneering spirit of renewable energy development.
© Jackson Finch. The author warrants that the work is the author's own and that Stanford University provided no input other than typesetting and referencing guidelines. The author grants permission to copy, distribute and display this work in unaltered form, with attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. All other rights, including commercial rights, are reserved to the author.
[1] R. Navez, Palm Springs: California's Desert Gem (Westcliffe Publication, 2006), p. 15.
[2] J. T. Rand et al., "A Continuously Updated, Geospatially Rectified Database of Utility-Scale Wind Tturbines in the United States," Sci. Data 7, 15 (2020).
[3] G. Msigwa, J. O. Ighalo, and P.-S. Yap, "Considerations on Environmental, Economic, and Eenergy Impacts of Wind Energy Generation: Projections Towards Sustainability Initiatives," Sci. Total Environ. 849, 157755 (2022).
[4] J. Hingtgen, D. Popa, and J. Gutierrez, "California Wind and Solar Generation During 2017 and 2018," California Energy Commission, CEC-200-2021-010, November 2021.
[5] H. Johlas, S. Witherby, and J. R. Doyle, "Storage Requirements For High Grid Penetration of Wind and Solar Power for the MISO Region of North America: A Case Study," Renew. Energy 146, 1315 (2020).
