1.79 MW
Project Size
5,100 MWh
Annual Production
4,180 Tons
Carbon Offset
570 Homes
Power Equivalent
Wind energy comes to Salinas Valley State Prison
Salinas Valley State Prison joined the Correctional Training Facility in making the switch to wind energy — both facilities partnering with Foundation Windpower to bring clean generation to the grounds just outside of Soledad. Together, the two projects represent part of a broader initiative to make California the greenest prison system in the country.
Salinas Valley State Prison's wind turbine stands 435 feet tall and generates 1.85 megawatts of power. Combined with the turbines at the California Training Facility and California State Prison Lancaster, the three wind turbines across the California prison system are estimated to generate 45 megawatts of power in total.
Under a site agreement with Foundation Windpower, the prison facilities purchase the wind power generated at a fixed rate over 20 years in exchange for turbine installation — with no cost to taxpayers. The SVSP and CTF turbines are the fourth and fifth wind turbines installed between Greenfield and Gonzales.
"We had an opportunity in three prisons now to expand our portfolio of alternative energy to include wind turbines. We take environmental stewardship very seriously."
"We expect to reduce our energy costs by $72 million over the next 20 years through solar energy."
"Our goal is to make California the greenest prison system in the country."
According to Foundation Windpower EVP of Sales and Marketing Bob Lewis, the project took approximately two and a half months — covering foundation excavation and pouring, on-site electrical work, turbine installation, electrical tie-in, and final commissioning.
Related project
CDCR Correctional Training Facility
Soledad, CA · 2017 · 1.79 MW
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