Why Wind Energy?
Wind is the fastest growing segment of the energy market. The City of Benicia has incredible wind resources that present a considerable opportunity. This opportunity should be seized to the largest extent practicable. New vertical axis wind turbines are affordable, aesthetically pleasing, and pose little threat to the avian population but are not yet practical for more than residential usage.
What the City is Doing
In 2008, the City commissioned the consulting firm HDR to conduct a wind analysis for select water and wastewater treatment facilities. The study concluded that a 250 kW turbine at the water treatment plant could supply 37 percent of the plant’s annual electricity demand. In addition, the study found that two pump stations are potentially viable sites for wind turbines, although a detailed analysis of these sites was not included in the scope of this study.