Tehachapi Wind Farm: A Leader in Wind Energy
Green Energy Produced in Tehachapi, California
California has been the pioneer in the generation of wind energy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the three largest wind farms in the world are at Altamont Pass, California, just east of San Francisco, in the Tehachapi Mountains in Kern County, and at San Gorgonio Pass, just north of Palm Springs.
Though the area of mountain pass where the wind farm is located in Tehachapi isn’t prime for agricultural use, it has proven to be valuable in the production of green power for over 30 years. First developed in the 1970’s, a wind turbine had an average cost of 20 cents per kwh to operate. Through technical advances such as larger blades, that cost has decreased to less than five cents per kwh. Wind turbines are considered green energy because they don’t create any pollution during their operation. You can tune your cars radio to 1610 AM for a self-guided tour and more information about Tehachapi’s energy producing wind turbines.
Other states such as Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana and Nebraska have established new wind farms over the past several years that are producing more energy than California’s wind farms. This is mainly because these wind farms have fewer but larger turbines spread out over a larger mass of land. The Department of Energy explains that many California wind farms are “repowering” their wind turbines by replacing smaller turbines with fewer larger ones.
Wind Energy on The Pacific Crest Trail
Among Tehachapi’s mountains you’ll find more than 67 miles of The Pacific Crest Trail that runs between Highway 58 and Highway 178 at Walkers Pass. Portions of the Pacific Crest Trail meanders through the energy producing wind turbines on Tehachapi Mountain Pass. You can access the Pacific Crest Trail from the intersection of Tehachapi-Willow Springs Rd. and Cameron Rd. This trail head is also a water cache for through backpackers. You can leave gifts of water since there are few natural water resources during this section and the Agua Dulce to Mojave section of the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail also has a second access point at Cameron Rd. and Highway 58. This trail head will take you to the Sierra Crest at 6,170 feet. The different and delicate ecosystems are abundant during this part of the Pacific Crest Trail and should be treated gently …please watch where you walk and try to stay on the trail.
For more things to do in and around Tehachapi -Visit the “Around Here” section of tehachapidaily.com
