Although the nation's wind potential is very large, only part of it can be exploited economically. The economic viability of wind power will vary from utility to utility. Important factors not addressed in this study that influence land availability and wind electric potential include production/demand match (seasonal and daily), transmission and access constraints, public acceptance, and other technological and institutional constraints.

Editor's Note: Though dated, this is a worthwhile read if read carefully.

Selected Extracts:

A wind energy resource atlas of the United States shows that areas potentially suitable for wind energy applications are dispersed throughout much of the United States. Estimates of the wind resource in this atlas are expressed in wind power classes ranging from class 1 to class 7, with each class representing a range of mean wind power density or equivalent mean speed at specified heights above the ground. Areas designated class 4 or greater are suitable with advanced wind turbine technology under development today. Power class 3 areas may be suitable for future generation technology (year 2000 and beyond). Class 2 areas are marginal and class 1 areas unsuitable for wind energy development. Maps of the area (percentage of land area) distribution of the wind resource digitized in grid cells of 1/4 latitude by 1/3 longitude (Figure 1 and 2) show that exposed areas with moderate to high wind resource are dispersed throughout much of the contiguous United States.

Figure 1: US Annual Wind Power Resource

Figure 2: Percent U.S. Land Area with Wind Resource =>Class 3

 Figure 4 shows the contribution that the wind energy of each state could make to meet the total electrical needs of the nation, assuming a moderate land exclusion scenario. North Dakota alone has enough potential energy from windy areas of class 4 and higher to supply 36% of the total 1990 electricity consumption of the 48 contiguous states.

 Figure 4

 

 

 

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