Electricity from wind in one U.S. state
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The state, a major coal producer , passed renewable portfolio standard legislation in 2009, but repealed it in 2015.[ 2] [ 3]
Statistics
West Virginia Wind Generation Capacity by Year
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
List of wind farms
See also
References
External links
Media related to Wind power in West Virginia at Wikimedia Commons
Wind power by state Large wind farms Offshore wind farms Wind power companies