Wind power in California had initiative and early development during Governor Jerry Brown's first two terms in the late 1970s and early 1980s.[1][2] The state's wind power capacity has grown by nearly 350% since 2001, when it was less than 1,700 MW.[3][4] In 2016, wind energy (including that supplied by other states) supplied about 6.9% of California's total electricity needs, or enough to power more than 1.3 million households.[5] Most of California's wind generation is found in the Tehachapi area of Kern County, California, with some large projects in Solano, Contra Costa and Riverside counties as well. California is among the states with the largest amount of installed wind power capacity.[3] In recent years, California has lagged behind other states when it comes to the installation of wind power. It was ranked 4th overall for wind power electrical generation at the end of 2016 behind Texas, Iowa, and Oklahoma. As of 2019, California had 5,973 megawatts (MW) of wind power generating capacity installed.
- ^ "U.S. wind energy grows in California, then stagnates nationwide in the 1980s". American Wind Energy Association. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
- ^ Hochschild, David (March 21, 2017). "Don't let wind energy stall". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
- ^ a b "WINDExchange: Installed Wind Capacity". energy.gov. U.S. Department of Energy. February 17, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ^ "AWEA 4th quarter 2012 Public Market Report" (PDF). American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). January 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 18, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
- ^ "California Wind Energy" (PDF). U.S. Wind Energy State Facts. American Wind Energy Association. Retrieved December 27, 2017.