During the year 2004, wind energy in the whole state of California produced more than 4,200 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, approximately 1.5 percent of all electricity generated. More than 90 percent of all of the state's wind generating capacity is located in three regions: Altamont Pass, San Gorgonio and Tehachapi.

Wind power plants are made up of turbines that make use of the energy in wind motion to create mechanical energy, which is then changed into electrical energy. Wind turbines can be placed near farms, homes and businesses in breezy locations, such as along the West coast. Turbines are deployable in areas where it isn't cost-efficient to run power lines.

The parts of a wind farm include turbines, distribution through an underground power station and a connection from the farm to the nearest power grid. Wind power is more accessible in certain seasons because the time of year affects wind speed. In Los Angeles, speeds are greatest in the scorching summer period. An estimated three-fourths of all yearly wind power is generated during the spring and summer.

Although power produced by older wind turbines is not as cost effective as some other forms of energy generation, newer wind turbine designs should be able to be competitive with power costs from nuclear and coal plants.

Some of the advantages in utilizing wind energy include: replacement of polluting conventional power plants; no pollution in the air, soil or water; it is completely renewable; the installment process is relatively swift; and power production not swayed by gas and oil price increases.

However, there are some issues with wind power, such as: the required use of large areas of land, although simultaneous land uses are available for such endeavors as agriculture and cattle grazing. Other potential problems are that it can cause erosion in desert areas, and disturb wildlife habitats.