Wind Projects
Nevada is better known for its solar and geothermal resources, but the state does have important and resource-significant wind-generation opportunities that NV Energy is pursuing in behalf of its customers.
Wind-generation Facilities to Serve NV Energy Customers
Spring Valley Wind Project 150 megawatts
Pattern Energy Group LP is in the construction phase of the Spring Valley Wind project. The project is located on public lands in northern Spring Valley, approximately 30 miles east of Ely, Nevada, and will be the state's first wind energy project. The 150-megawatt Spring Valley Wind project will take approximately one year to build and will create approximately 225 jobs during construction. The wind project will also create up to 13 full-time permanent positions once operational and generate new business and tax revenue for the state and the White Pine County community.
China Mountain Wind Project 200 megawatts
Still in the development stage, this is a joint development project between NV Energy and RES Americas. It is located on the Nevada-Idaho border, near Jackpot, NV RES Americas is taking the lead role with the development efforts and is supporting the Bureau of Land Management, which is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess the impact that the construction and operation of the proposed facilities could have on natural and cultural resources and local communities. It is anticipated a Draft EIS would be released in 2010, and the Final EIS and "Record of Decision" is likely to be issued in 2011. If all proceeds as planned, the project would be operational in 2013.
WindGenerations
NV Energy customers benefit from a n incentive program to help them offset the installation costs of new renewable energy systems, including wind-generating systems. Program categories include residential, small business, schools, public buildings and agriculture. Approximately 60 wind projects have been installed or funded throughout Nevada.
What is Wind Power?
Wind has been harnessed for hundreds of years. From old Holland to farms in the United States, windmills have been used for pumping water or grinding grain. Now, turbines can use the wind's energy to generate electricity.
Wind turbines, like windmills, are mounted on a tower to capture the most energy. At 100 feet (30 meters) or more above ground, they can take advantage of the faster and less turbulent wind. Turbines catch the wind's energy with their propeller-like blades. Usually, two or three blades are mounted on a shaft to form a rotor.
A blade acts much like an airplane wing. When the wind blows, a pocket of low-pressure air forms on the downwind side of the blade. The low-pressure air pocket then pulls the blade toward it, causing the rotor to turn. This is called lift. The force of the lift is actually much stronger than the wind's force against the front side of the blade, which is called drag. The combination of lift and drag causes the rotor to spin like a propeller, and the turning shaft spins a generator to make electricity.
