The U.S. Department of Energy has determined that West Virginia has significant wind power development opportunities,[1] with a potential of 69 gigawatts. As of the start of 2020, there were 376 wind turbines in operation in West Virginia with a generating capacity of 686 megawatts (MW) and responsible for 2.7% of in-state electricity production. An additional 56 MW was under construction.[2]

The state, a major coal producer, passed renewable portfolio standard legislation in 2009, but repealed it in 2015.[2][3]

Statistics

West Virginia Wind Generation Capacity by Year
Megawatts of Wind Capacity [4]
West Virginia Wind Generation (GWh, Million kWh)
Year Total Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2002 9 9
2003 171 16 15 17 17 14 10 11 4 12 16 19 20
2004 160 24 17 18 16 12 8 8 4 9 10 15 19
2005 154 14 15 17 16 11 9 5 7 8 12 18 22
2006 173 24 23 16 13 13 6 8 7 10 19 11 23
2007 166 22 20 17 19 9 7 7 5 6 13 19 22
2008 393 22 19 25 20 20 26 19 22 24 56 68 72
2009 744 86 86 69 71 31 49 49 32 46 71 68 86
2010 940 92 79 85 86 66 69 49 33 66 114 89 112
2011 1,103 102 113 112 114 49 62 45 68 60 122 124 132
2012 1,285 201 147 136 130 59 90 85 41 65 98 100 133
2013 1,386 175 154 174 140 134 78 55 58 51 58 157 152
2014 1,451 166 146 167 143 100 62 76 64 67 154 157 149
2015 1,376 158 137 181 137 75 103 65 44 71 122 147 136
2016 1,430 166 164 134 120 74 92 69 57 67 130 135 222
2017 1,683 149 137 183 174 162 132 103 77 103 147 153 163
2018 1,771 185 160 181 181 146 144 88 110 106 147 158 165
2019 1,632 157 133 145 165 146 133 101 92 112 147 145 156
2020 1,899 201 185 181 206 205 121 72 92 88 139 196 213
2021 1,623 197 129 205 170 106 84 82 59 112 139 133 207
2022 2,028 170 203 244 217 140 122 110 88 147 184 240 163
2023 745 247 253 245
Source:[5]

List of wind farms

See also

References

  1. ^ WV Department of Commerce (11 May 2015). "West Virginia Department of Commerce Wind Energy". wvcommerce.org. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b "West Virginia Wind Energy" (PDF). U.S. Wind Energy State Facts. American Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  3. ^ "State Renewable Portfolio Standards and Goals". National Association of State Legislatures. February 19, 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  4. ^ WINDExchange: U.S. Installed and Potential Wind Power Capacity and Generation
  5. ^ "Electricity Data Browser". U.S. Department of Energy. March 28, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2021.

External links

Media related to Wind power in West Virginia at Wikimedia Commons

Wind power in the United States
Category