Wind turbines capture the wind’s energy. Propeller-like blades or similar purpose structures mounted on a rotor turn the turbine creating Direct Current (DC) which is converted into Alternating Current (AC) for use. The large turbines are usually mounted on towers about one hundred feet in the air where the wind is more consistent. The turbines can be stand alone or be grouped into farms for direct connection to the electric grid. As part of green building practice, the small turbines are now being integrated and sometimes paired with solar systems to serve regular commercial buildings, agriculture, residential and mobile use.
Forty-six of the fifty states contain wind resources suitable for commercial development, although only fifteen percent of the country has excellent wind. Total installed U.S. wind capacity at year's end 2009 was 34,863 MW, or enough to serve more than 8.68 million average households. New, larger wind turbines (from 1 to 5 megawatts per turbine) generate more than 120 times as much electricity as 1980's models, at one-sixth the cost, and with much more reliability due to substantially improved gear boxes.
The CPUC has authorized eligible wind turbine systems to receive incentives for up to 3 MW of capacity from prior years’ carryover funding for 2008 and 2009. As part of the CPUC decision, incentives for systems larger than 1 MW up to 3 MW will be paid a tiered incentive. The program sunsets at the end of 2011.
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