Record Wind On The Great Plains

Wind energy setting records in Minnesota

Paul Huttner, April 29, 2016 (Minnesota Public Radio)

“...[April winds in the Midwest] have blown harder than average…with average wind speeds ranging from 12 to 15 mph and nearly half the days of the month producing peak wind gusts…[as high as] 40 and 50 mph…[They have been producing] unprecedented power production across the Upper Midwest…[On one November day, more than 50 percent of Xcel Energy’s] total energy output was produced by wind…[due to the strong winds and sophisticated new wind forecasting software allowing siting for increased production. It has allowed the ramping] down of coal plants at times of heavy wind production…[Data on the impact of climate change on wind speeds] seems to be inconclusive at this point…[The] question has not been comprehensively addressed by the atmospheric and climate science community yet…” click here for more

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