BPA Journal - Wind turbines in BPA’s transmission grid generated over 4,000 megawatts for the first time on Sunday, March 11,2012, producing nearly twice as much energy as that generated by coal, gas and nuclear plants connected to BPA’s system at that time. Wind generation on BPA’s system surpassed the 4,000 megawatt milestone at 3:22 p.m., reaching a new all-time peak of 4,039 megawatts about an hour and a half later. BPA expects to have 5,000 megawatts of this emission-free, renewable resource connected to its system by 2013, several years ahead of earlier estimates. The growth of wind power on BPA’s grid continues to exceed expectations by adding almost 1,000 megawatts in just the past 12 months.
