The city of Los Angeles began construction last month on what will be the largest city-owned wind farm in the U.S. The Pine Tree Wind Project in California’s Tehachapi Mountains, will generate up to 120 megawatts (MW) of electricity for the city’s residents, according to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP).
"Pine Tree is the start of a new model of clean energy in which Los Angeles is no longer satisfied with only buying clean power, but is taking the lead nationally in producing its own," says Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. "Today we upgrade to green energy version 2.0."
The DWP says it expect the $425 million project to be completed sometime next year. In addition to 80 1.3 MW wind turbine generators, the Pine Tree Wind Project includes a new high-voltage transmission line and a new electrical substation.
Mayor Villaraigosa has set a goal for the city of Los Angeles to produce 20% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2010 and 35% by 2020.
The DWP also recently purchased 12,000 acres of land adjacent to the Pine Tree Wind Project, which it plans to develop as an even larger, 150-MW wind farm, called the Pine Canyon Wind Project.
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