User:Nourenie/Wind power in Pennsylvania

There are more than 27 wind farms currently installed in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These 27 farms on average could provide power for nearly 350,000 homes or 13,000 megawatts of energy. A majority of these wind farms are located in the southwest-central and northeastern regions of the state. 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. Pennsylvania is close to several offshore sites along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

Wind power is also environmentally friendly. In a comparison done with coal power, studies found that wind power resulted in a saving of 93,000 tons of net CO2 impact. Also 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.

If all wind energy potential in Pennsylvania was 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. In 2016 the state had 1369 megawatts (MW) of wind powered electricity generating capacity, responsible for 1.6% of in-state electricity production(bad link deleting the whole info). This increased to 1459 MW in 2020.

History (Original)

In 2006, Pennsylvania's 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. (Found citation)

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.[citation needed] (Found citation)

In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency honored Swarthmore, Pennsylvania as a Green Power Community — the only one in the Eastern United States - for its commitment to buy clean energy generated from wind turbines in mountainous region of western Pennsylvania.

In 2012, a coalition of wind farm developers, owner, operators, their supporters, and retail suppliers joined together to form ChoosePAWind. This coalition's goal is to educate Pennsylvanians about the environmental and economic benefits of supplying energy from local wind farms.(deleting third & fourth paragraph in history, could not find reliable source)

Many smaller wind farms in Pennsylvania are operated by NextEra Energy Resources, based in Florida.

Removing citation #6 (3rd and 4th paragraphs), leads to nothing

History Draft

In 2000, the state's first commercial wind farm, the Green Mountain Wind Energy Center, was completed in Somerset County, but was deactivated in 2015.

In 2006, Pennsylvania's 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.

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.

Within 15 years, Pennsylvania will require 18 percent of electricity generated to come from renewable energy sources such as wind energy. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is currently developing regulations to implement this policy.

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.

Many smaller wind farms in Pennsylvania are operated by NextEra Energy Resources, based in Florida.

Wind Farms
See also: List of power stations in Pennsylvania § Wind

Installed capacity and wind resources(original)
There has been advancements in both on and offshore wind power in Pennsylvania. At least 1300 MW of wind power is currently being generated from the 27 wind farms in Pennsylvania. According to the U.S. energy information administration, 1 MW of wind Power can power about 650 average american homes in a year.

As of current advancements in Offshore wind power, despite the state's limited shoreline, on Lake Erie, the Northwest Pennsylvania Green Economy Task Force (NWPAGE) have been working on a campaign who's goal is to have 300 MW of offshore wind power working by 2022. Lake Erie's offshore wind power is more efficient than the other of shore plants because it is low maintenance as the water is not as salted and therefore does not cause as much corrosion. This offshore plant will be next to a densely polluted area and therefore power will not be lost in transportation.