Tehachapi, Calif., Contains Largest Wind Energy Resources in State
Aug 27 - The Bakersfield Californian
Aug. 28--In the future, Tehachapi could play a significant role in filling the state's electricity needs.
The infrastructure in the wind energy area doesn't just need an upgrade, it
needs it "badly. It's pitiful," said Hal Romanowitz, who heads up the
Kern Wind Energy Association.
Romanowitz and others in the local wind industry have long said Tehachapi
needs additional transmission capacity.
Just how long have they lobbied for more capacity?
"Eighteen years," Romanowitz said Thursday from Oak Creek Energy
Systems Inc., a local wind energy company he directs.
Finally, the wind is blowing in their favor.
The California Public Utilities Commission, earlier this summer, ordered
staff members to assemble a study group charged with developing a plan for the
phased expansion of transmission capabilities in the Tehachapi area.
"The Tehachapi area contains the largest wind resource in California
and, if more fully developed, could meet a significant portion of the goals for
renewable energy development in California," Sheri Inouye, deputy press
secretary of the CPUC, said via e-mail.
The study group met for two workshops in San Francisco this summer, most
recently on Aug. 18. Their report is due in March.
"Tehachapi is going to get the transmission. The question is when and
the underlying details," said Romanowitz, who's involved in the group.
Even more important than convening the study group, Romanowitz said, was the
commission's finding that Tehachapi needs more transmission.
"Existing transmission constraints in the Tehachapi area currently
prevent new wind installations," the commission's finding states.
"Large-scale transmission upgrades capable of transporting power from
multiple wind projects will be needed if Tehachapi wind is to contribute
significantly to California's renewable power goals."
The state Legislature has mandated that by 2017, 20 percent of the
electricity procured by the state's utilities come from "green"
resources, such as wind or solar.
It's likely the 2017 deadline will be pushed up to 2010.
Romanowitz said expanding capacity in Tehachapi and making it more reliable
will allow wind energy companies, including Oak Creek, to move forward with
projects they've had on the back burner for years because they didn't have a way
to move the electricity off the mountain.
Romanowitz said most of the power lines used to transport wind-generated
electricity were already old and of low capacity in 1982. While they've been
modestly upgraded, what's needed, he said, are new power lines that can carry
higher voltage.
Improving transmission won't come cheap.
Romanowitz said a complete transmission upgrade will cost about $1.8 billion.
He said the first phase of the upgrade could be built in 2007.
Just over 645 megawatts of wind generation is currently operational in the
Tehachapi area, according to the California Public Utilities Commission.
It's estimated the area could generate an additional 4,000 megawatts of
electricity at peak capacity.
That's enough power for about 400,000 homes.
Most of the additional energy will come from new wind turbines.
In addition to generating electricity, Romanowitz said the turbines will
bring economic investment into eastern Kern County and provide additional wind
energy jobs.
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