The U.S. Department of Energy has determined that West Virginia has significant wind power development opportunities,[1] with a potential of 69 gigawatts. As of the start of 2020, there were 376 wind turbines in operation in West Virginia with a generating capacity of 686 megawatts (MW) and responsible for 2.7% of in-state electricity production. An additional 56 MW was under construction.[2]
The state, a major coal producer, passed renewable portfolio standard legislation in 2009, but repealed it in 2015.[2][3]
West Virginia Wind Generation (GWh, Million kWh) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Total | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
2002 | 9 | 9 | |||||||||||
2003 | 171 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 19 | 20 |
2004 | 160 | 24 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 19 |
2005 | 154 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 22 |
2006 | 173 | 24 | 23 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 19 | 11 | 23 |
2007 | 166 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 22 |
2008 | 393 | 22 | 19 | 25 | 20 | 20 | 26 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 56 | 68 | 72 |
2009 | 744 | 86 | 86 | 69 | 71 | 31 | 49 | 49 | 32 | 46 | 71 | 68 | 86 |
2010 | 940 | 92 | 79 | 85 | 86 | 66 | 69 | 49 | 33 | 66 | 114 | 89 | 112 |
2011 | 1,103 | 102 | 113 | 112 | 114 | 49 | 62 | 45 | 68 | 60 | 122 | 124 | 132 |
2012 | 1,285 | 201 | 147 | 136 | 130 | 59 | 90 | 85 | 41 | 65 | 98 | 100 | 133 |
2013 | 1,386 | 175 | 154 | 174 | 140 | 134 | 78 | 55 | 58 | 51 | 58 | 157 | 152 |
2014 | 1,451 | 166 | 146 | 167 | 143 | 100 | 62 | 76 | 64 | 67 | 154 | 157 | 149 |
2015 | 1,376 | 158 | 137 | 181 | 137 | 75 | 103 | 65 | 44 | 71 | 122 | 147 | 136 |
2016 | 1,430 | 166 | 164 | 134 | 120 | 74 | 92 | 69 | 57 | 67 | 130 | 135 | 222 |
2017 | 1,683 | 149 | 137 | 183 | 174 | 162 | 132 | 103 | 77 | 103 | 147 | 153 | 163 |
2018 | 1,771 | 185 | 160 | 181 | 181 | 146 | 144 | 88 | 110 | 106 | 147 | 158 | 165 |
2019 | 1,632 | 157 | 133 | 145 | 165 | 146 | 133 | 101 | 92 | 112 | 147 | 145 | 156 |
2020 | 1,899 | 201 | 185 | 181 | 206 | 205 | 121 | 72 | 92 | 88 | 139 | 196 | 213 |
2021 | 1,623 | 197 | 129 | 205 | 170 | 106 | 84 | 82 | 59 | 112 | 139 | 133 | 207 |
2022 | 2,028 | 170 | 203 | 244 | 217 | 140 | 122 | 110 | 88 | 147 | 184 | 240 | 163 |
2023 | 2087 | 247 | 253 | 245 | 166 | 140 | 134 | 108 | 120 | 80 | 163 | 206 | 226 |
2024 | 405 | 228 | 177 |
Media related to Wind power in West Virginia at Wikimedia Commons