SMUD's wind farm boosts harvest
On June 1, 2006, eight new wind turbines went to work converting the Delta breeze into electricity for SMUD customers. Located in the Montezuma Hills near Rio Vista in Solano County, the turbines are the latest addition to SMUD's wind farm that now produces up to 39 megwatts of power.
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Bigger and more powerful turbines
At 415 feet tall, the eight new turbines are the largest installed in the United States -- and are 100 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty. The 3-megawatt wind turbines each produce enough power to meet the annual needs of more than 1,000 SMUD households.
The new turbines used in Phase 2 of the wind farm are taller and more powerful than those used in Phase 1. That phase used 23 turbines to produce 15 megawatts of electricity and the largest is 241 feet high.
The turbines generate with as little as 8 mph of wind speed, reach full power at 33 mph and continue to operate up to 56 mph.
Low cost power
Not only do the turbines use a clean and renewable fuel -- the wind -- they produce some of SMUD's lowest cost electricity at under 5 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Room to grow
SMUD owns additional land in the area with room for expansion to 200 megawatts, pending approval by the Board of Directors.
SMUD now owns 6,345 acres in Solano County and first installed wind generation on the property in 1994. The orignial turbines have been decommissioned and replaced with larger and more reliable turbines.
Precise locations for each turbine were selected based on several years of wind data and topographical maps. As a result, the turbines are strategically placed to take full advantage of the winds that whip in from the coast, squeeze through the Carquinez Straits, and spill into the Delta. The site is one of the best locations in all of California for wind generation.
The turbines now being used by SMUD also have reduced environmental impact. Because the blades turn slower, it’s easier for birds to see the blades and avoid flying into them. The new turbines also have pedestal towers, which means birds are not able to perch or roost near the blades.
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