ML072040350

Wind Energy Resource Potential

ML072040350
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	07/05/2007
From:	US Dept of Energy (DOE)
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Davis J NRR/DLR/REBB, 415-3835
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ML072040342	List: ML072040344 ML072040350
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Download: ML072040350 (3)

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'Wind'and Hydropower Technologies Program: Wind Energy Resource Potential Page I of -3)

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Search Help m More Search. Optons a Hydropower iPrintable Version EERE Information Center Wind Energy Wind Energy Resource Potential Vvird Energy sic Good wind areas, which cover 6% of the contiguous U.S. land area, have the potential to supply more than one and a half times the current SHow Wind Turbines WVork electricity consumption of the United States.

- Advantages Disadvantages Estimates of the wind resource are expressed in wind power classes

-History ranging from class 1 to class 7, with each class representing a range of Preurre Potential mean wind power density or equivalent mean speed at specified heights Consumer FAQs above the ground. Areas designated class 4 or greater are suitable with Research & Development advanced wind turbine technology under development today. Power class 3 areas may be suitable for future technology. Class 2 areas are marginal Emerging Applications and class 1 areas are unsuitable for wind energy development..

U.s. Annual Wind Power Resource and Wind Power classes - contiguous U.S.

States.

http://www 1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpotential.html?print 7/5/2007

Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program: Wind Energy Resource Potential Page 2 of 3 U.S. Annual Wind Power Resource and Wind Power Classes - Alaska and Hawaii.

Because techniques of wind resource assessment have improved greatly in, recent years, work began-in 2000 to update the U.S. wind atlas. The work will produce regional-scale maps of the wind resource with resolution down to one square kilometer. The new atlas will take advantage of modern techniques for mapping. It will also incorporate new meteorological, geographical, and terrain data. The program's advanced mapping of the wind resource is another important element necessary for expanding wind-generating capacity in the United States.

http://www 1.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpotential.html?print 7/5/2007

Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program: Wind Energy Resource Potential Page 3 of 3) 2000 1987 U.S. Wind Atlas Map vs. 2000 High-Resolution (1-km 2 ) Wind Map of North and South Dakota Visit the Wind Powering America State Wind Map page to see if your state or area of interest has a newer, more detailed map available.

If you have difficulty accessing the information on this page because of a disability, please contact the webmaster for assistance.

E.Printable Version Wind and Hydropower Technologies ProgramHome I EEREHome I U.S. Department of Energy Webmaster I Web Site Policies I Security & Privay I USA.gov Content Last Updated: 09/14/2005 http://wwwl.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpotential.html?print 7/5/2007