Solar Energy Potential
There is really no way to determine true solar potential in any given location,
but the map above gives a good idea of the areas in the country that would benefit the most from solar. The map shows in color
code the peak hours of sunlight in each of the areas, as you can see (and as common sense should tell you) the southeast
and southwest have the highest potential. Solar power is productive in just about every location in the US, but the reason
that actual potential can not be concluded is because solar involves many factors beyond formulation. What we mean to say
is that, potential for solar power is only limited by space and economics. For instance, if you were to build a solar farm
in Nevada that encompassed an area of say 10 square miles, you could generate enough power to supply the entire country. This
may seem far reaching, but only because of the economics. There are plenty of ten square mile tracks of land in the Nevada
desert, but a farm of this magnitude would run in the trillions of dollars. Not even good old Uncle Sam could foot the bill
on that endeavor.
Solar power equated to approximately 120MW in the US in 2006
Wind
Energy Potential
| ARIZONA Total Potential 1100 MW = to approx. 330,000 homes. (*
zero installed) | ARKANSAS Total Potential 2500 MW = to approx. 750,000 homes. (*100,000KW
installed) | CALIFORNIA Total potential 6700 MW = to approx. 2,000,000 homes (*2300MW
installed) | COLORADO Total Potential 54,000 MW = to approx. 16,000,000 homes
(*290MW installed) | CONNECTCUT Total Potential 550 MW = to approx. 165,000 homes
(*zero installed) | GEORGIA Total Potential 170MW = to approx. 51,000 homes
(*zero installed) | |
IDAHO Total Potential 8000 MW = to approx. 2,400,000 homes
(*75MW installed) | ILLINOIS Total Potential 7000 MW = to approx. 2,100,000 homes
(*100MW
installed) | IOWA Total Potential 62,000 MW = to approx. 18,600,000 homes
(*900MW
installed) | KANSAS Total Potential 122,000 MW = to approx. 36,600,000 homes
(*350MW
installed) | MAINE Total Potential 6000 MW = to approx. 1,800,000 homes
(*42MW installed) | MARYLAND Total Potential 300 MW = to approx. 90,000 homes
(*zero installed) | MASSACHUSETTS Total Potential 2800 MW = to approx. 840,000 homes
(*4MW installed) | MICHIGAN Total Potential 7500 MW = to approx. 2,250,000 homes
(*2.5MW installed) | MINNESOTA Total Potential 75,000 MW = to approx. 22,500,000 homes
(*900MW installed) | MISSOURI Total Potential 63,000 MW = to approx. 18,900,000 homes
(*zero installed) | MONTANA Total Potential 116,000 MW = to approx. 34,800,000 homes
(*120MW installed) | NEBRASKA Total Potential 95,000 MW = to approx. 28,500,000 homes
(*75MW installed) | NEVADA Total Potential 5500 MW = to approx. 1,650,000 homes
(*zero installed) | NEW HAMPSHIRE Total Potential 500 MW = to approx. 150,000 homes
(*1.5MW installed) | NEW JERSEY Total
Potential 1200 MW = to approx. 360,000 homes
(*7.5MW installed) | NEW MEXICO Total Potential 50,000 MW = to approx. 15,000,000 homes
(*500MW installed) | NEW YORK Total Potential 7000 MW = to approx. 2,100,000 homes
(*350MW installed) | NORTH DAKOTA Total Potential 130,000 MW = to approx. 39,000,000 homes
(*200MW installed) | OHIO Total Potential 400 MW = to approx. 120,000 homes
(*5MW installed) | OKLAHOMA Total Potential 80,000 MW = to approx. 24,000,000 homes
(*600MW installed) | OREGON Total Potential 5000 MW = to approx. 1,500,000 homes
(*475MW installed) | PENNSYLVANIA Total Potential 5000 MW = to approx. 1,500,000 homes
(*200MW installed) | |
SOUTH DAKOTA Total Potential 115,000 MW = to approx. 34,500,000 homes (*50MW
installed) | |
TEXAS Total Potential 125,000 MW = to approx. 37,500,000 homes
(*4000MW
installed) | UTAH Total Potential 2500 MW = to approx. 750,000 homes
(*1MW
installed) | VERMONT Total Potential 500 MW = to approx. 150,000 homes
(*10MW
installed) | WASHINGTON Total Potential 3600 MW = to approx. 1,080,000 homes
(*900MW installed) | WEST VIRGINIA Total Potential 550 MW = to approx. 165,000 homes (*75MW
installed) | WISCONSIN Total Potential 6300 MW = to approx. 1,890,000 homes
(*60MW installed) | WYOMING Total Potential 85,000 MW = to approx. 25,500,000 homes
(*374MW installed)
Please note that several states did not meet wind generation criteria to be entered on this list, especially those in the
southeast.
States such as Florida, North and South Carolina are currently being researched for off-shore wind capacity
and will be added
as data becomes available.
You will note
that over all wind capacity countrywide equates to over 400,000,000 homes. That’s more than double the number
of
homes in the entire country. * This information is approximate and gathered from a number of sources, some totals
may
include projects that are in current construction. These numbers will change often due to many proposed projects to start
construction in the near future. Please keep in mind that these numbers represent peak output which is unlikely due
to equipment
and transmission efficiencies.
For additional Potential wind power readings please visit the American Wind Energy Association web site at www.awea.org Or click
on the state and you will go direct to the awea page listing current and proposed wind projects.
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Biomass Potential
Geothermal Energy Potential
The geothermal resources map of the United States below shows the estimated subterranean
temperatures at a depth of 6 kilometers. To determine the Earth's internal temperature at any depth below the capabilities
of normal well drilling, multiple data sets are synthesized. The data used for this figure are: thermal conductivity, thickness
of sedimentary rock, geothermal gradient, heat flow, and surface temperature.
Geothermal Energy currently produces
about 2800MW of power in the US.
CA accounts for 2500MW = to approx. 750,000 homes
NV accounts for 300MW = to approx.
90,000 homes
HI accounts for 35MW = to approx. 10,500 homes
UT accounts for 25MW = to approx. 7500 homes
There is conformation of an additional 2200MW under construction currently in the west. These stats are focused on deep
well geothermal and do not account for shallow well projects that are typically intended for single or direct use.
Generating Hydrogen from Renewable Resources
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