By Contributing Writer
Wind farms generate power and electricity by taking the energy used to spin a turbine and converting it into mechanical power or electricity, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The agency discusses how wind turbines work differently than a fan. Rather than turning because of electricity, the turbine takes the energy spinning it and transfers it to power a generator which then powers the electricity in a single building or group of buildings. Wind farms, an alternative and renewable energy source, produce a great amount of energy in the
United States, which is home to the world's largest wind farm.
Texas
Texas leads the nation in the number of megawatts generated through wind energy, according to the American Wind Energy Association,. The Lone Star State in 2009 produces more than 7,900 megawatts, or about a quarter of the total of the nation's wind energy, and is home to two of the largest wind farms in the world, the Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center in Taylor and the Roscoe Wind Farm, in Roscoe.
Iowa
Iowa follows Texas in number of megawatts produced. According to the American Wind Energy Association, the state is responsible for producing 2,883 megawatts. The state has several large producing wind farms, including the Crystal Lake Wind Farm in Crystal Lake, and the Pioneer Prairie Wind Farm, in the northern part of the state.
California
California produces 2,653 megawatts from wind. The state has several large producing wind farms, including the Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm, the San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm in Southern California and the Altamont Pass Wind Farm in the central part of the state.
Other Wind Farm States
Many wind farms are located in and near the Midwest, with farms in Minnesota, Kansas and Colorado each producing more than 1,000 megawatts in 2009, according to the American Wind Energy Association.
With California, West Coast states Washington and Oregon are large producers, producing more than 1,300 megawatts.
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