COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
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Fact Sheet FS-04-53
Nevada’s Renewable Energy
Resources: Wind
Kynda R. Curtis, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Resource Economics, College of Agriculture,
Biotechnology, and Natural Resources
Donald Breazeale, Pershing County Extension Educator, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
William W. Riggs, Eureka County Extension Educator, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
What is Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy is result of natural
atmospheric, geologic, and biological processes on
the earth. Renewable energy sources include solar,
wind, geothermal, and biomass. They are available
in abundance in the western US and continually
renew themselves, although they vary spatially and
temporally within and between years. In other
words, these energy sources can not be depleted.
Heat and light from the sun, wind, thermal gasses,
and organic waste can all be harnessed to produce
electricity, power machinery and automobiles,
while providing a cleaner environment, better air
quality, and water availability in comparison to
traditional fossil fuel energy sources.
Just over 50% of the power used in the western
US is generated with fossil fuels. Fossil fuels
include coal, natural gas, and oil, all of which are
non-renewable energy sources. These fuel sources
will eventually be depleted, causing the costs of
these sources to increase dramatically as supplies
fall. There are many environmental and public
health costs associated with non-renewable energy
sources as well. Coal and gas extraction often
necessitate land and natural environment
degradation. Additionally, fossil fuels used to
operate power plants and generate electricity
produce 40% of total US carbon dioxide emissions,
63% of US sulfur dioxide emissions, and 20% of
US nitrogen oxide emissions, both causes of urban
haze, brown clouds, and acid rain.
Why is Renewable Energy Development
Important?
In addition to the health and environmental
benefits of renewable energy sources, there are also
economic related benefits. Many renewable energy
development projects are completed in rural areas,
which may lead to economic development in terms
of new business generation and employment
opportunities. For example, wind farms which use
windmills to harness wind power and convert that
power to electricity are often located in large open
areas including range land, crop land, and mountain
ridges. Additionally, renewable energy can
provide reliable energy sources to rural areas where
electricity was previously unreliable or unavailable.
Renewable energy will also reduce the longterm costs of power and stabilize energy prices due
to its renewable nature. Market prices for energy as
well as most other goods change in accordance with
supply and demand forces. Renewable energy
sources would provide a constant supply of energy,
stabilizing energy prices. Studies show that
renewable energy sources will be more than able to
accommodate the increasing US population and its
growing demand for energy in the western US.
Although the potential for renewable energy
sources are great, there are currently many issues
which must be addressed before these resources can
be fully developed. These include, but are not
limited to technology, transmission capabilities, and
environmental impact studies.
The State of Nevada has abundant solar, wind,
and biomass energy sources, but has a greater
potential for geothermal energy production of any
other state. In 2001, Nevada implemented the most
aggressive renewable portfolio standard, calling for
15% of the state’s energy usage to come from
renewable sources by 2013 (Senate Bill No. 372).
This fact sheet is the first in a series of four
publications, which provide an overview of
renewable energy sources and current projects in
Nevada, including resources for further
information, and funding for renewable energy
project development.
What is Wind Power?
Wind energy is really a result of solar energy.
The sun’s radiation results in differing heat levels
across the earth’s surfaces. Air rushing from areas
of high pressure to low pressure, creates wind. The
energy of these moving air molecules, called kinetic
energy, can be converted into other forms of
energy, including electricity.
Wind power has been utilized by people for
many years to produce mechanical power for
milling grain and pumping water. In recent years
people have moved to harness wind power to
generate electricity through the use of wind
turbines. Wind power is one of the safest and
cleanest of all renewable commercial methods of
generating electricity.
Modern wind electric turbines are becoming a
common sight in many rural areas of the US. While
not as common as the traditional water-pumping
windmills, their efficiency and applicability in rural
areas is increasing. These large modern-looking
machines efficiently convert wind into utility-grade
electricity that can be used by communities,
residential areas, businesses, and agricultural
producers.
How is Wind Power Used?
The primary use of wind power today is the
production of electricity. However, the wind
industry has the potential to also provide secondary
benefits apart from electricity production. Many
landowners in windy areas are considering the
possibility of leasing their land for wind farm
development, or simply to produce their own power
and/or sell excess capacity back to utilities.
The most economical utilization of wind power
includes large groups of machines called “wind
power plants” or “wind farms.” Generally these
facilities involve individual machines capable of
producing 600 kilowatts or kW, or more of
electricity. However, smaller machines are
available for individual operators. Wind energy,
while not appropriate for every situation, can
provide income diversification for individuals and
communities through the production of electricity
or, as mentioned above, by leasing wind rights on
property,
The following terms are used to describe the
electricity generating capacity of wind turbines.
Electricity is measured in units called “watts”.
Watts are commonly measured in kilowatts
(kW=1,000 watts), megawatts (MW=1 million
watts), and gigawatts (pronounced “jig-a-watt”,
GW=1 billion watts). Electricity production and
use by consumers is measured in kilo-watt-hours
(kWh). A kilowatt-hour describes the electricity
produced or used (1,000 watts) in one hour. A 50watt light bulb that remains on for 20 hours
consumes one kilowatt-hour of electricity (50 watts
x 20 hours = 1,000 watt-hours = 1 kilowatt-hour).
A wind turbine’s output depends on the
turbine’s size and the wind speed moving the rotor.
Wind turbines currently range from 250 watts to 1.8
megawatts (MW). For example, a 10-kW wind
turbine can generate approximately 10,000 kWh
annually with wind speeds averaging 12 miles per
hour. The average U.S. household consumes
approximately 10,000 kWh annually. On the other
hand, a 1.8-MW turbine can produce more than 5.2
million kWh in a year. This is enough for more
than 500 households.
Are there Wind Power Projects in Nevada?
Nevada has excellent potential for electricity
generation through wind power. Currently there are
several anemometers in place to measure wind
potential at various sites within Nevada. Figure 1
(last page) provides an overview of the wind power
capabilities in Nevada. As shown in the Figure 1,
northern Nevada, and in particular, north-central
Nevada has the best potential. While this is true for
large commercial wind farms, small individual
operators may still benefit from single turbine
machines to power residences and/or
farming/ranching operations given appropriate
economic conditions.
While there are no current wind power
generation projects in Nevada, there are several
proposed projects. Cielo Wind Power at Desert
Queen Wind Ranch in Ainsworth, Clark County has
proposed to install an 80MW capacity facility by
2005. Carlson & Associates in conjunction with
Ely Wind in White Pine County have proposed a 50
MW capacity installation by 2005 as well. There
are also two competing proposals currently in the
planning stage for construction of wind projects
near the town of Gerlach in northern Washoe
County. While these two projects also encompass
coal and geothermal sources, wind power is part of
both proposals.
Where Can I Find Funding for Wind Power
Projects?
Grants
USDA-Rural Development: This grant
authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill, provided funds
($22.8 million in 2004) to ranchers, farmers, and
rural small business for renewable energy projects,
including wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal
sources. Grant funds, which can be used for up to
25% of total project costs, are awarded annually.
For more information see
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/index.html
Rebate Programs
There are a number of rebate programs in
Nevada, including business and personal property
tax rebates, sales tax rebates, and utility bill rebates.
The Federal Government also provides rebates
including corporate tax credits and clean-fuel
vehicle tax deductions. Federal loan programs
include the Energy Efficient Mortgage and the
Energy Star Financing programs. A complete
listing of all State and Federal programs is available
at http://www.dsireusa.org/.
Where Can I Find Additional Information?
Web Resources
American Wind Energy Association:
http://www.awea.org
Clean Energy, Winrock International:
http://www.winrock.org
Global Energy Concepts:
http://www.globalenergyconcepts.com
Nevada State Office of Energy:
http://energy.state.nv.us/
U.S. Department of Energy, Wind Energy Program:
http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/
U.S. Department of Energy, Wind Powering
America Initiative:
http://www.eere.energy.gov/windpoweringamerica/
U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable
Energy Laboratory, National Wind Technology
Center: http://www.nrel.gov/wind
Wind System Contractors/Providers
Alternative Energy Systems, Inc.
300 W. Utah Ave. Suite 101
Las Vegas, NV 89102
702-262-9463
D & L Henson Enterprises
2433 E. Tropicana #354
Las Vegas, NV 89121
702-269-4478
AMI International
206 Black Eagle Ave.
Henderson, NV 89015
702-564-9186
Alternative Energy Solutions
195 N. Edison, Suite 16
Reno, NV 89502
775-857-1157
Scott Campbell Electric, Inc.
4001 S. Decatur 37-112
Las Vegas, NV 89103
702-431-4797
References
American Wind Energy Association. Wind
Energy Fact Sheets. Washington, D.C.
http://www.awea.org/pubs/factsheets.html.
Dodge, Darrel. Illustrated History of Wind
Power Development. Littleton, CO.
http://telosnet.com/wind/.
Nielson, John, Susan Innis, Leslie Kaas
Pollock, Heather Rhoads-Weaver, and Angela
Shutak. Renewable Energy Atlas of the West: A
Guide to the Region’s Resource Potential. A
project of the Hewlett Foundation and The Energy
Foundation. Produced by Land and Water Fund of
the Rockies and Northwest Sustainable Energy for
Economic Development.
http://www.EnergyAtlas.org.
Figure 1. Nevada Wind Power Potential
This project is sponsored in part by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, the University of Nevada Agricultural
Experiment Station, and the Nevada State Office of Energy. The University of Nevada Reno is an equal opportunity, affirmative
action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, national origin, veteran status,
physical or mental disability or sexual orientation in any program or activity it operates. The University of Nevada Reno employs
only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.