Altamont Pass, California: One of the oldest Wind Farms in the US

Wind Generated Electricity in California

Anne and I were driving East along I580 when we saw strange looking towers looming in the distance – each time we came up and over a rise more and more towers seemed to manifest out of nowhere!  Little did we know we were driving through Altamont Pass, California, home to one of three primary wind farm regions in California.  Wind farm development began here more than 30 years ago, and to date, more than 4,800 wind turbine towers stretch across the rolling landscape about an hour east from San Francisco.

Image 1 Rolling hills in Altamont Pass, Ca - Copyright L.A. Lewin 2011

Really, it was amazing to see wind turbines spread across the landscape.   We had never seen anything like it.  Seeing it for the first time was bizarre.

Even more bizarre, the sight of cows grazing seemingly unfazed by these massive structures and the constant non-harmonic hum they produced.  The hum seemed to be everywhere and nowhere; the sound travels in the wind that constantly blows across the Altamont Pass region; an amazing experience, indeed.

Image 2 Seemingly unfazed cows graze among the wind turbines - Copyright L. A. Lewin 2011

I asked Anne to turn off the next exit so we could tour some of the back roads, many of them unpaved, for photographic opportunities.  Capturing the strange beauty of hundreds of wind turbines painted across the golden hills in Altamont Pass was a task; very strong winds, some gusting to 35+ miles per hour, made using a tripod useless; all shots are hand held.  For the shot along the fence, (see Image 3), I had to brace myself right up against the front grill of our rental SUV to keep the camera and myself steady.

Image 3 Some wind turbines are 30 years old - Copyright L. A. Lewin 2011

Early wind farm development included construction of wind turbine towers 60 feet to 80 feet in height.   These low profile towers interfere with bird migration and on the lower, 60 feet towers, allows the rotating blade to come very close to the ground sometimes killing raptors as they swoop low in search of prey.  In a 2003 report issued by The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1000 birds are killed annually in the Altamont Pass region!

Image 4 These older turbines are being replaced with 400-450 feet structures by 2015

In an effort to reduce the number of birds killed each year, some of the oldest towers began replacement a few years ago with 250 feet towers, and more recently with towers more than 400 feet in height!  Taller structures keep the blades tips far off the ground and away from low flying raptors, while the greater height will keep the spinning turbine blades out of migration paths.

Image 5 More modern 250 feet wind turbine towers - Copyright L. A. Lewin 2011

Replacement of 2000 of about 4000 older wind turbine towers, (some dating back more than 30 years), is part of a ambitious project slated to be complete by 2015.  These new wind turbine towers rise more than 400 feet in height, and for every new one erected, replaces 23.   These state of the art wind turbines are much quieter and each produces 2.3 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 600-700 homes!

If you are interested in reading more about this wonderful, clean and efficient alternative energy source, follow this link for a head start. 

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Altamont_Pass,_California

Be sure to visit my website and Blog later in March to learn about the tech in capturing and developing the images viewed on these pages.  Thank you.

Citations:

Data research gained from an article titled: Altamont Pass, California - by Melissa Lowitz - Copyright 2009

Additional information researched from an article by Diana Hull – San Jose Mercury News - 2012