3rd Sep 2007: The San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm in CA

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The San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm stretches across the mountain pass in Riverside County, and is known as one of the oldest and largest wind‑energy regions in the United States. Development began in the early 1980s, and together with Altamont Pass and Tehachapi Pass, it forms one of California’s three major wind‑power areas. Today, around 667 turbines are in operation, generating roughly 656 megawatts of electricity—enough to power about 195,000 homes.

The pass lies between the San Bernardino Mountains to the north and the San Jacinto Mountains to the south, creating a natural corridor where strong, steady winds blow throughout the year. Thanks to these ideal conditions, more than 4,000 small turbines once filled the landscape in the 1980s. In recent years, many of those older machines have been replaced with larger, more efficient models, reducing the number of turbines while increasing overall energy production.

The area is also an important hub for high‑voltage transmission lines that help carry electricity between the Los Angeles region and the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona. Alongside wind power, large‑scale battery storage facilities—such as the Desert Peak Energy Facility—have recently begun operating, supporting a more stable supply of renewable energy.

When you drive along Interstate 10 from Yosemite toward Los Angeles, the sight of these countless turbines spreading across the desert feels almost surreal. It’s a landscape that perfectly captures California’s commitment to clean, renewable energy.