The world’s largest wind farm is called Roscoe Wind Farm and it is located within the state of Texas. Roscoe Wind Farm covers an area that is about the size of a small town or city. A large wind farm typically consists of hundreds of wind turbines that are spread out over a large area. Most wind farms are connected to power plants that distribute electricity to business, homes and industries over hundreds of miles away.
Wind farms have contributed to at least 3% to 5% of the nation’s electrical generation. This isn’t a lot when compared to non-renewable sources such as coal which is typically used to produce electricity. Even though this is the case, wind farms helped to generate electricity for millions of homes and businesses.
Wind farms are usually constructed in parts of the country where wind patterns constantly flow. Wind engineers (also known as wind farmers) have to analyze weather and wind patterns in various locations in order to determine the best place to situate a wind farm. Wide open areas that have a high elevation offer some of the best places to establish wind farms. Rounded and smooth hills, open shore lines and mountain gaps that produce natural funnels are usually considered prime locations for establish wind farms.
There are five major states within the country where wind farms are usually given priority. These places include Texas, California, Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa. Extensive funding for wind programs are available in these areas of the country and wind farms are a common feature of the landscape. The states of Texas and California have some of the biggest farms in the country and the world.
Roscoe Wind Farm is constantly being challenged by other competitors that want to claim the title for largest wind farm. Most areas of the country have some type of wind farm that they use to produce electricity. The Horse Hallow Wind Energy Center in Texas once held the title before Roscoe Wind Farm had emerged to take its place.
The Roscoe Wind Farm is capable of generating close to 800 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Keep in mind that one megawatt of electricity is enough to provide power to 1000 homes. This means that nearly 800,000 homes that are located near Roscoe can be powered by this wind farm. Horse Hallow Wind Energy Center produces about 750 MW of power. The Alta-Oak Creek Mojave out in California produces 720 MW of electricity and Fowler Ridge in the state of Indiana produces 600 MW.
There are other large scale wind farms being constructed that are expected to generate larger sums of energy than the Roscoe win farm. The Banner County Wind Farm within the state of Indiana is expected to generate 2000 MW of power. Once this project is completed it will be able to generate enough power for 2 million homes and businesses in and around the Indiana area.
The Shepherds Flat Wind Farm in Oregon has been under construction in 2009 and is expected be in operation before 2020. This particular wind farm will have the capacity to generate 845 MW of power. Once the technology and cost effectiveness of wind power becomes more viable, large wind farms will be utilized by more states and the federal government for producing electricity.
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