1 MW
Project Size
3,000 MWh
Annual Production
2,460 Tons
Carbon Offset
335 Homes
Power Equivalent
The Salinas Valley's largest wind turbine — built for the public good
In July 2014, Soledad city leaders announced the completion of the Salinas Valley's largest wind turbine — a utility-scale project that broke ground in January 2014 and will annually produce approximately 3.5 million kWh of clean, renewable energy to offset usage at the nearby water reclamation facility.
When wind is sufficient, the electricity generated will significantly exceed the facility's needs, allowing the City to net-meter the surplus back to the grid. The project is projected to generate over $2 million in savings over 25 years, protecting ratepayers against future rate increases with no upfront capital costs.
Beyond the financial benefits, the project reduces greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 2,500 metric tons annually — the equivalent of taking over 500 vehicles off the road. City leaders conducted an extensive environmental analysis before approving the project, including working with researchers from Stanford University and the Ventana Wildlife Society to ensure the design avoided any hazard to the endangered California condor. Soledad sits between the two condor release sites at Big Sur and Pinnacles National Park, and ongoing monitoring efforts are in place to identify and address any changing environmental circumstances.
The City of Soledad contracted with Foundation Windpower to develop, finance, and construct the project. The new turbine is the latest in a series of investments the City has made to reduce long-term operating expenses, protect public resources, and support a growing local economy.
"Our highest priority is always to protect our taxpayers, who work hard for every dollar they earn. This project allows us to deliver them real savings with no upfront capital costs. It is a huge win for our city and our local community."
"In order to continue to grow our local economy and provide our residents with greater economic opportunities, we have to protect and utilize all available resources, and wind is a resource we have a lot of. With this project, we have the opportunity to transform one of our most abundant energy sources into real savings for our taxpayers and residents that can now be invested back into our local economy."
"We are delighted to have completed this project with the City of Soledad and applaud their leadership and strategic commitment to sustainable, energy efficient operations of its water reclamation facility, a critical asset towards the continued growth of the City and the region. Foundation Windpower looks forward to being City of Soledad's partner in this project's long term operation."
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