New high-resolution, state-of-the-art maps of wind energy potential are now available for the Northwest. Resource estimates are easily accessible to the public through an interactive Geographic Information System (GIS) website.
Through a zoom-in web interface allowing quick site look-ups, along with forthcoming supporting data sheets and an automated payback calculator, the maps will greatly aid rural landowners and communities in exploring economic opportunities to harness wind energy.
The project is coordinated by NW Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (NWSEED) and the NW Cooperative Development Center (NWCDC) and sponsored by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), and numerous other organizations.