Wind power in Pennsylvania: Difference between revisions
source actually says " For example, one manufacturer found that the average net CO2 impact of their wind turbine over a year compared to a coal power plant results in a savings of 93,000 tons of CO2." This is vague and not directly relevant |
TheBigVice (talk | contribs) Fixed grammar and typos, clarification |
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{{short description|Electricity from wind in one U.S. state}} |
{{short description|Electricity from wind in one U.S. state}} |
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[[File:Somerset wind farm all portrait cloudy.jpg|thumb|220px|Turbines at the [[Somerset Wind Farm]] in [[Somerset County, Pennsylvania]].]] |
[[File:Somerset wind farm all portrait cloudy.jpg|thumb|220px|Turbines at the [[Somerset Wind Farm]] in [[Somerset County, Pennsylvania]].]] |
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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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pennsylvania - State Energy Profile Analysis - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)|url=https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=PA|access-date=2021-10-05|website=www.eia.gov}}</ref> There are more than 27 [[Wind farm|wind farms]] currently operating in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Theoretically, the [[Energy development|energetic development]] of these wind farms could provide power for nearly 350,000 homes, or 1,300 megawatts.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Wind Power|url=https://www.dep.pa.gov:443/Business/Energy/Wind/Pages/default.aspx|access-date=2021-09-21|website=Department of Environmental Protection|language=en-US}}</ref> A majority of the farms are located in the southwest-central and northeastern regions of the state.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Pennsylvania Wind Farms {{!}} Saint Francis University|url=https://www.francis.edu/Pennsylvania-Wind-Farms|access-date=2021-09-21|website=www.francis.edu}}</ref> 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 (United States)|Mid-Atlantic]] region, Pennsylvania is close to several offshore sites along the coast of the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. |
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Wind power is also environmentally friendly. Wind power 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wind Energy in Pennsylvania|url=https://extension.psu.edu/wind-energy-in-pennsylvania|access-date=2021-09-21|website=Penn State Extension|language=en}}</ref> |
Wind power is also environmentally friendly. Wind power 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wind Energy in Pennsylvania|url=https://extension.psu.edu/wind-energy-in-pennsylvania|access-date=2021-09-21|website=Penn State Extension|language=en}}</ref> |
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If all wind energy potential in Pennsylvania |
If all wind energy potential in Pennsylvania were developed with utility-scale [[wind turbine]]s, the power produced each year would be enough to supply 6.4% of the state's current [[electricity]] consumption.<ref name="awea_factsheet">State wind energy fact sheet - Pennsylvania, American Wind Energy Association, Dec. 2011</ref> In 2016, the state had 1369 megawatts (MW) of [[wind power]]ed electricity [[Nameplate capacity|generating capacity]], responsible for 1.6% of in-state electricity production.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pennsylvania Wind Energy|url=http://awea.files.cms-plus.com/FileDownloads/pdfs/Pennsylvania.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118222431/http://awea.files.cms-plus.com/FileDownloads/pdfs/Pennsylvania.pdf|website=U.S. Wind Energy State Facts|publisher=American Wind Energy Association |archive-date=18 January 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This increased to 1459 MW in 2020.<ref>[https://windexchange.energy.gov/states/pa Wind Energy in Pennsylvania]</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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[[File:HighlandNorth.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Turbines at the Highland North Wind Farm in Cambria County, PA.]] |
[[File:HighlandNorth.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Turbines at the Highland North Wind Farm in Cambria County, PA.]] |
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In 2000, |
In 2000, Pennsylvania's first commercial wind farm, the [[Green Mountain Wind Energy Center]], was completed in [[Somerset County, Pennsylvania|Somerset County]], but deactivated in 2015. <ref>{{Cite web|title=Pennsylvania Wind Farms {{!}} Saint Francis University|url=https://www.francis.edu/Pennsylvania-Wind-Farms|access-date=2021-10-03|website=www.francis.edu}}</ref> |
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In 2006, |
In 2006, the state [[Pennsylvania General Assembly|legislature]] ruled that wind turbines and related equipment may not be included in [[Property tax|property-tax]] assessments. Instead, the sites of wind facilities are assessed for their [[Real estate appraisal|income-capitalization]] value. <ref>{{Cite web|title=Property:Incentive/Summary {{!}} Open Energy Information|url=https://openei.org/w/index.php?title=Property:Incentive/Summary&from=Property+Tax+Assessment+for+Commercial+Wind+Farms+(Pennsylvania)|access-date=2021-10-03|website=openei.org}}</ref> |
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In 2007, [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery County]] became the first wind-powered [[County (United States)|county]] in the nation, with a two-year commitment to buy 100 percent of its electricity from a combination of wind energy and |
In 2007, [[Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Montgomery County]] became the first wind-powered [[County (United States)|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. <ref>{{Cite web|last=Corcoran|first=John|date=20 March 2019|title=Montgomery County Announces 100% Wind Power Purchase & Commitment To Sustainable Operations|url=https://www.montcopa.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4830|access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref> |
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Within 15 years, Pennsylvania will require 18 percent of electricity to come from renewable energy sources such as wind energy. The [[Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission]] is currently developing regulations to implement this policy. |
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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. <ref name=":12">{{Cite web|title=Wind Power|url=https://www.dep.pa.gov:443/Business/Energy/Wind/Pages/default.aspx|access-date=2021-09-21|website=Department of Environmental Protection|language=en-US}}</ref> |
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. <ref name=":12">{{Cite web|title=Wind Power|url=https://www.dep.pa.gov:443/Business/Energy/Wind/Pages/default.aspx|access-date=2021-09-21|website=Department of Environmental Protection|language=en-US}}</ref> |
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== Wind Farms<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pennsylvania Wind Farms {{!}} Saint Francis University|url=https://www.francis.edu/Pennsylvania-Wind-Farms|access-date=2021-09-21|website=www.francis.edu}}</ref> == |
== Wind Farms<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pennsylvania Wind Farms {{!}} Saint Francis University|url=https://www.francis.edu/Pennsylvania-Wind-Farms|access-date=2021-09-21|website=www.francis.edu}}</ref> == |
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[[File:PattonWindFarm.jpg|thumb|alt=Two turbine of Patton Wind Farm, one of which is so close that only the lower tower is visible in the foreground.|Patton Wind Farm]] |
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See also: [[List of power stations in Pennsylvania#Wind|List of power stations in Pennsylvania § Wind]] |
See also: [[List of power stations in Pennsylvania#Wind|List of power stations in Pennsylvania § Wind]] |
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{| class="wikitable" |
{| class="wikitable sortable" |
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!Wind Farm |
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!County |
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!Number of Turbines |
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!Turbine Capacity (MW) |
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!Farm Capacity (MW) |
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|- |
|- |
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|[[Somerset Wind Farm|Somerset]] |
|[[Somerset Wind Farm|Somerset]] |
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==Installed capacity and wind resources== |
==Installed capacity and wind resources== |
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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{{when|date=July 2022}} installed at the 27 wind farms in Pennsylvania.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wind Power|url=https://www.dep.pa.gov:443/Business/Energy/Wind/Pages/default.aspx|access-date=2021-10-05|website=Department of Environmental Protection|language=en-US}}</ref> According to the U.S. energy information administration, 1 MW of wind power can power about 650 average American homes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How much wind energy does it take to power an average home?|url=https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-much-wind-energy-does-it-take-power-average-home?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products|access-date=2021-10-05|website=www.usgs.gov|language=en}}</ref> |
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[[Offshore wind power]] has been proposed on the state's limited shoreline on [[Lake Erie]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=ERIE WIND|url=https://cleanair.org/clean-energy/erie-wind/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=cleanair.org}}</ref>[[File:Pennsylvania Wind Resource Map 80m wind map.PNG|thumb|Pennsylvania 80-Meter Wind Map]] |
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==Wind generation== |
==Wind generation== |
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| 2020 || 3,748 || 387 || 331 || 381 || 374 || 341 || 203 || 151 || 180 || 213 || 306 || 437 || style="background-color: #9dd;"| 444 |
| 2020 || 3,748 || 387 || 331 || 381 || 374 || 341 || 203 || 151 || 180 || 213 || 306 || 437 || style="background-color: #9dd;"| 444 |
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|-align=right |
|-align=right |
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| 2021 || 3,536 || 319 || 319 || style="background-color: #9dd;"| 403 || 340 || 272 || 227 || 184 || 184 || 265 || 287 || 341 || 395 |
| 2021 || 3,536 || 319 || 319 || style="background-color: #9dd;"| 403 || 340 || 272 || 227 || 184 || 184 || 265 || 287 || 341 || 395 |
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|-align=right |
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| 2022 || 3,767 || 363 || 373 || style="background-color: #9dd;"| 400 || 369 || 310 || 247 || 209 || 182 || 235 || 315 || 400 || 364 |
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|-align=right |
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| 2023 || 1,111 || 328 || style="background-color: #9dd;"| 394 || 389 || || || || || || || || || |
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{{Portal|Wind power|Renewable energy|Energy|United States|Pennsylvania}} |
{{Portal|Wind power|Renewable energy|Energy|United States|Pennsylvania}} |
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*[[Solar power in Pennsylvania]] |
*[[Solar power in Pennsylvania]] |
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*[[Renewable energy law in Pennsylvania]] |
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*[[Wind power in the United States]] |
*[[Wind power in the United States]] |
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*[[Renewable energy in the United States]] |
*[[Renewable energy in the United States]] |
Latest revision as of 17:56, 30 December 2023
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Somerset_wind_farm_all_portrait_cloudy.jpg/220px-Somerset_wind_farm_all_portrait_cloudy.jpg)
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.[1] 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.[2] A majority of the farms are located in the southwest-central and northeastern regions of the state.[3] 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 also environmentally friendly. Wind power 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.[4]
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.[5] In 2016, the state had 1369 megawatts (MW) of wind powered electricity generating capacity, responsible for 1.6% of in-state electricity production.[6] This increased to 1459 MW in 2020.[7]
History
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/HighlandNorth.jpg/200px-HighlandNorth.jpg)
In 2000, Pennsylvania's first commercial wind farm, the Green Mountain Wind Energy Center, was completed in Somerset County, but deactivated in 2015. [8]
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. [9]
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. [10]
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. [11]
Many smaller wind farms in Pennsylvania are operated by NextEra Energy Resources, based in Florida. [12]
![Two turbine of Patton Wind Farm, one of which is so close that only the lower tower is visible in the foreground.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/PattonWindFarm.jpg/220px-PattonWindFarm.jpg)
See also: List of power stations in Pennsylvania § Wind
Wind Farm | County | Number of Turbines | Turbine Capacity (MW) | Farm Capacity (MW) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Somerset | Somerset | 6 | 1.5 | 9.0 |
Mill Run | Fayette | 10 | 1.5 | 15.0 |
Waymart | Wayne | 43 | 1.5 | 64.5 |
Meyersdale | Somerset | 20 | 1.5 | 30.0 |
Bear Creek | Luzerne | 12 | 2.0 | 24.0 |
Locust Ridge I | Schuylkill | 13 | 2.0 | 26.0 |
Allegheny Ridge | Cambria, Blair | 40 | 2.0 | 80.0 |
Casselman | Somerset | 23 | 1.5 | 34.5 |
Forward | Somerset | 14 | 2.1 | 29.4 |
Lookout | Somerset | 18 | 2.1 | 37.8 |
Locust Ridge II | Columbia, Schuylkill | 51 | 2.0 | 102.0 |
Highland | Cambria | 25 | 2.5 | 62.5 |
North Allegheny | Cambria, Blair | 35 | 2.0 | 70 |
Armenia Mountain | Tioga, Bradford | 67 | 1.5 | 100.5 |
Stony Creek | Somerset | 35 | 1.5 | 52.5 |
Chestnut Flats | Blair | 19 | 2.0 | 38 |
South Chestnut | Fayette | 23 | 2.0 | 46 |
Turkey Point Wind Project (Frey Farm Wind) | Lancaster | 2 | 1.6 | 3.2 |
Highland North | Cambria | 30 | 2.5 | 75 |
Sandy Ridge | Blair, Centre | 25 | 2.0 | 50 |
Twin Ridges | Somerset | 68 | 2.05 | 139.4 |
Laurel Hill | Lycoming | 30 | 2.3 | 69.0 |
Patton | Cambria | 15 | 2.0 | 30 |
Mehoopany | Wyoming | 88 | 1.6 | 140.8 |
Ringer Hill | Somerset | 14 | 2.85 | 39.9 |
Big Level | Potter | 25 | 3.6 | 90 |
Total | 751 | 1459 |
Location map
[edit]Installed capacity and wind resources
[edit]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[when?] installed at the 27 wind farms in Pennsylvania.[14] According to the U.S. energy information administration, 1 MW of wind power can power about 650 average American homes.[15]
Offshore wind power has been proposed on the state's limited shoreline on Lake Erie.[16]
Wind generation
[edit]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.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Pennsylvania - State Energy Profile Analysis - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
- ^ "Wind Power". Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Pennsylvania Wind Farms | Saint Francis University". www.francis.edu. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Wind Energy in Pennsylvania". Penn State Extension. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ State wind energy fact sheet - Pennsylvania, American Wind Energy Association, Dec. 2011
- ^ "Pennsylvania Wind Energy" (PDF). U.S. Wind Energy State Facts. American Wind Energy Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2016.
- ^ Wind Energy in Pennsylvania
- ^ "Pennsylvania Wind Farms | Saint Francis University". www.francis.edu. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
- ^ "Property:Incentive/Summary | Open Energy Information". openei.org. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
- ^ Corcoran, John (20 March 2019). "Montgomery County Announces 100% Wind Power Purchase & Commitment To Sustainable Operations". Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ "Wind Power". Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Info for Pennsylvanians: PA Wind Farms". www.pawindenergynow.org. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Pennsylvania Wind Farms | Saint Francis University". www.francis.edu. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
- ^ "Wind Power". Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
- ^ "How much wind energy does it take to power an average home?". www.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
- ^ "ERIE WIND". cleanair.org. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
- ^ EIA (July 27, 2012). "Electric Power Monthly Table 1.17.A." United States Department of Energy. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
- ^ EIA. "EIA Electricity Data Browser". United States Department of Energy. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
- ^ Wind Energy in Pennsylvania
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Pennsylvania Wind Working Group
- Penn Future: Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future profile on Wind farms in Pennsylvania.