Wind Energy
Wind turbines capture kinetic energy from wind and convert it into electricity. Utility-scale wind turbines are mounted on towers, some 300 feet or taller. At those heights, the wind is faster and less turbulent. In utility-scale power applications, any number of turbines are connected to the utility grid, generating electricity as the wind turns the blades and turbine.
The BLM manages more than 20 million acres of public lands in 11 western states with wind energy potential, and has approved wind energy projects on public lands since 1982. Currently, about 5 percent of total producing utility-scale wind energy capacity in the United States is generated from facilities on public lands.
Building and operating a wind energy facility on public lands requires a right-of-way (ROW) authorization.
West-wide Wind Mapping Project
The West-wide Wind Mapping Project is an online mapping tool that allows users to overlay wind energy potential on BLM-administered lands with other natural, social, and cultural resource data.
BLM staff and stakeholders can use the tool to identify areas with high wind energy potential and low resource conflict that may be appropriate for wind energy development.
