In 2006, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in an alliance with General Electric, went forward in constructing a 120 megawatt wind farm, known as the Pine Tree Wind Project. It is supposed to one day satisfy 20 percent of the utility's energy demands.

Back in 2004, wind energy in the entire state of California produced greater than 4,200 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, about 1.5 percent of total electricity generated. More than 90 percent of all of the state's wind generating capacity is located in three regions: Altamont Pass, San Gorgonio and Tehachapi.

Wind power plants are comprised of turbines that take advantage of the energy in wind motion to make mechanical energy, which is then changed into electrical energy. Wind turbines can be utilized by farms, homes and businesses in windy locations, such as along the California coast. Turbines are deployable in areas where it isn't cost-efficient to place power lines.

The parts of a wind farm include turbines, distribution through an underground power conduit and a connection from the farm to the closest power grid. Wind power is more obtainable in certain seasons because the time of year affects wind speed. In Los Angeles, speeds are greatest in the scorching summer months. An estimated three-fourths of all yearly wind power is generated during the spring and summer.

Although power created by older wind turbines is not as cost effective as some other forms of energy generation, newer wind turbine designs should be able to be competitive with power costs from nuclear and coal plants.

Some of the advantages in utilizing wind energy include: replacement of polluting conventional power plants; leaves no pollution in the air, soil or water; it is completely renewable; the installment process is relatively swift; and power production not swayed by gas and oil price increases.

However, there are some areas of concern with wind power, such as: the required use of large tracts of land, albeit the fact that simultaneous land uses are available for such endeavors as agriculture and cattle grazing. Other potential problems are that it can cause erosion in desert areas, and disrupt wildlife habitats.

About the Author

Matt Paolini is an energy writer} for CityBook.com, the family-safe online yellow pages, which carries an extensive directory on Los Angeles environmental services.