The Wind Integration National Dataset (WIND) Toolkit, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), provides modeled wind speeds at multiple elevations. Instantaneous wind measurements were analyzed from more than 126,000 sites in the continental United States for the years 2007–2013. The model results were mapped on a 2-km grid. A subset of the contiguous United States data for 2012 is shown here. Offshore data is shown to 50 nautical miles.Time Extent: Annual 2012Units: m/sCell Size: 2 kmSource Type: StretchedPixel Type: 32 Bit FloatData Projection: GCS WGS84Mosaic Projection:  WGS 1984 Web MercatorExtent: Contiguous United StatesSource: NREL Wind Integration National Dataset v1.1WIND is an update and expansion of the Eastern Wind Integration Data Set and Western Wind Integration Data Set. It supports the next generation of wind integration studies.Accessing Elevation InformationEach of the 9 elevation slices can be accessed, visualized, and analyzed. In ArcGIS Pro, go to the Multidimensional Ribbon and use the Elevation pull-down menu. In ArcGIS Online, it is best to use Web Map Viewer Classic where the elevation slider will automatically appear on the righthand side. The elevation slider will be available in the new Map Viewer in an upcoming release. What can you do with this layer?This layer may be added to maps to visualize and quickly interrogate each pixel value. The pop-up provides the pixel’s wind speed value.This analytical imagery tile layer can be used in analysis. For example, the layer may be added to ArcGIS Pro and proposed wind turbine locations can be used to Sample the layer at multiple elevation to determine the optimal hub height. Source data can be accessed on Amazon Web ServicesUsers of the WIND Toolkit should use the following citations:Draxl, C., B.M. Hodge, A. Clifton, and J. McCaa. 2015. Overview and Meteorological Validation of the Wind Integration National Dataset Toolkit (Technical Report, NREL/TP-5000-61740). Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory.Draxl, C., B.M. Hodge, A. Clifton, and J. McCaa. 2015. "The Wind Integration National Dataset (WIND) Toolkit." Applied Energy 151: 355366.King, J., A. Clifton, and B.M. Hodge. 2014. Validation of Power Output for the WIND Toolkit (Technical Report, NREL/TP-5D00-61714). Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

GIS data for Bhutan's Wind Power Density at 50m Above Ground Level. NREL developed estimates of Bhutans wind resources at a spatial resolution of 1 km^2 using NREL's Wind Resource Assessment and Mapping System (WRAMS). Wind turbine output at a given site can be predicted using wind speed data and the turbine's power curve, which describes the turbines operating power at different wind speeds. Using data found from this analysis, estimates can be made for the best potential locations for wind energy throughout Bhutan.

Abstract: Annual average wind resource potential for the state of South Carolina at a 50 meter height.

Purpose: Provide information on the wind resource development potential within the state of South Carolina.

Supplemental Information: This data set has been validated by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants. However, the data is not suitable for micro-siting potential development projects. This shapefile was generated from a raster dataset with a 200 m resolution, in a WGS 84 projection system.

Other Citation Details: The wind power resource estimates were produced by AWS TrueWind using their MesoMap system and historical weather data under contract to Wind Powering America/NREL. This map has been validated with available surface data by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants.

License Info

This GIS data was developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory ("NREL"), which is operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE"). The user is granted the right, without any fee or cost, to use, copy, modify, alter, enhance and distribute this data for any purpose whatsoever, provided that this entire notice appears in all copies of the data. Further, the user of this data agrees to credit NREL in any publications or software that incorporate or use the data.

Access to and use of the GIS data shall further impose the following obligations on the User. The names DOE/NREL may not be used in any advertising or publicity to endorse or promote any product or commercial entity using or incorporating the GIS data unless specific written authorization is obtained from DOE/NREL. The User also understands that DOE/NREL shall not be obligated to provide updates, support, consulting, training or assistance of any kind whatsoever with regard to the use of the GIS data.

THE GIS DATA IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL DOE/NREL BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CLAIMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOSS OF DATA OR PROFITS, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM AN ACTION IN CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS CLAIM THAT ARISES OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACCESS OR USE OF THE GIS DATA.

The User acknowledges that access to the GIS data is subject to U.S. Export laws and regulations and any use or transfer of the GIS data must be authorized under those regulations. The User shall not use, distribute, transfer, or transmit GIS data or any products incorporating the GIS data except in compliance with U.S. export regulations. If requested by DOE/NREL, the User agrees to sign written assurances and other export-related documentation as may be required to comply with U.S. export regulations.

Abstract: Annual average wind resource potential for the state of Georgia at a 50 meter height.

Purpose: Provide information on the wind resource development potential within the state of Georgia.

Supplemental Information: This data set has been validated by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants. However, the data is not suitable for micro-siting potential development projects. This shapefile was generated from a raster dataset with a 200 m resolution, in a UTM zone 17, datum WGS 84 projection system.

Other_Citation_Details: The wind power resource estimates were produced by AWS TrueWind using their MesoMap system and historical weather data under contract to Wind Powering America/NREL. This map has been validated with available surface data by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants.

License Info

This GIS data was developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory ("NREL"), which is operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE"). The user is granted the right, without any fee or cost, to use, copy, modify, alter, enhance and distribute this data for any purpose whatsoever, provided that this entire notice appears in all copies of the data. Further, the user of this data agrees to credit NREL in any publications or software that incorporate or use the data.

Access to and use of the GIS data shall further impose the following obligations on the User. The names DOE/NREL may not be used in any advertising or publicity to endorse or promote any product or commercial entity using or incorporating the GIS data unless specific written authorization is obtained from DOE/NREL. The User also understands that DOE/NREL shall not be obligated to provide updates, support, consulting, training or assistance of any kind whatsoever with regard to the use of the GIS data.

THE GIS DATA IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL DOE/NREL BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CLAIMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOSS OF DATA OR PROFITS, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM AN ACTION IN CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS CLAIM THAT ARISES OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACCESS OR USE OF THE GIS DATA.

The User acknowledges that access to the GIS data is subject to U.S. Export laws and regulations and any use or transfer of the GIS data must be authorized under those regulations. The User shall not use, distribute, transfer, or transmit GIS data or any products incorporating the GIS data except in compliance with U.S. export regulations. If requested by DOE/NREL, the User agrees to sign written assurances and other export-related documentation as may be required to comply with U.S. export regulations.

Reclassified Rasters and then Polygons were created from the point layers described below in order to provide a quicker Map Service for the MarineCadastre.gov National Viewer. Downloads of these files and the original points are available from the MarineCadastre.gov Data Registry Description of source data points: The geodatabase was created by computing statistical wind speed parameters for seven years of wind data from NREL’s WIND Toolkit and placing them on a GIS grid that corresponds to the existing BOEM aliquot lease grid for the Atlantic coastal region. For the Atlantic coastal region, seven years of modeled mean wind speed data on an approximately 2-km grid were obtained from NREL WIND toolkit . Each 1.2-km BOEM aliquot grid cell was assigned a mean wind speed that corresponds to the nearest 2-km WIND Toolkit grid cell representing the majority of its area. The Weibull parameters were estimated by computing the parameters of a Weibull distribution that has the same mean speed and wind energy as the WIND Toolkit data. This process created a long-term, monthly, and hourly (by month and for the whole 7-year period) Weibull representation of the wind speed for each aliquot. The resulting dataset is intended to provide broad estimates of wind speed variation for the purposes of identifying possible good wind energy sites. It is not intended to provide estimates of possible energy production for the purpose of making offshore wind project investment or financing decisions in specific locations. Explanation of Attributes: Results in the geodatabase are reported on the existing 1.2 km x 1.2 km aliquot grid defined by BOEM for the Atlantic coastal region. Wind speed statistics are reported at the center point of each aliquot grid, but represent the mean values over the entire area of each grid cell. The data set delivered to BOEM is a geodatabase consisting of 14 layers. There is one layer for the long-term statistics, one layer for each month, and one polygon layer of aliquots covered by the data. The long-term shapefile includes mean wind speed and Weibull parameters to capture the long-term wind speed distribution of the entire 7-year time series. Each monthly shapefile contains mean wind speed and Weibull parameters for that month overall and for each hour of the day within that month. All times are in EST (UTC-5). Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401. Phone: 303-275-3000. NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC. Additional Information: Contact George Scott at george.scott@nrel.gov for more information.View Dataset on the Gateway

Abstract: Annual average wind resource potential for the state of Connecticut at a 50 meter height.

Purpose: Provide information on the wind resource development potential within the state of Connecticut.

Supplemental_Information: This data set has been validated by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants. However, the data is not suitable for micro-siting potential development projects. This shapefile was generated from a raster dataset with a 200 m resolution, in a UTM zone 12, datum WGS 84 projection system.

Other_Citation_Details: The wind power resource estimates were produced by AWS TrueWind using their MesoMap system and historical weather data under contract to Wind Powering America/NREL. This map has been validated with available surface data by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants.

A shapefile of annual average wind resource potential for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands at a 50 meter height. This data set has been validated by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants. Note: This data is not suitable for micro-siting potential development projects. This shapefile was generated from a raster dataset with a 200 m resolution, in a UTM zone 12, datum WGS 84 projection system. The wind power resource estimates were produced by AWS TrueWind using their MesoMap system and historical weather data under contract to Wind Powering America/NREL. This map has been validated with available surface data by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants.

Annual average wind resource potential for the state of Rhode Island at a 50 meter height.

This data set has been validated by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants. Note: This data is not suitable for micro-siting potential development projects. This shapefile was generated from a raster dataset with a 200 m resolution, in a UTM zone 12, datum WGS 84 projection system.

The wind power resource estimates were produced by AWS TrueWind using their MesoMap system and historical weather data under contract to Wind Powering America/NREL. This map has been validated with available surface data by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants.

Annual average wind resource potential for the state of Kansas at a 50 meter height.

This data set has been validated by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants. Note: This data is not suitable for micro-siting potential development projects. This shapefile was generated from a raster dataset with a 200 m resolution, in a UTM zone 12, datum WGS 84 projection system.

The wind power resource estimates were produced by AWS TrueWind using their MesoMap system and historical weather data under contract to Wind Powering America/NREL. This map has been validated with available surface data by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants.

This dataset is a geographic shapefile generated from the original raster data. The original raster data resolution is a 200-meter cell size. The data provide an estimate of annual average wind speed at 90 meter height above surface for specific offshore regions of the United States. To learn more, please see the Assessment of Offshore Wind Energy Resources for the United States.

These data were produced in cooperation with U.S. Department of Energy, and have been validated by NREL. To download state wind resource maps, visit Wind Powering America.

In order to ensure the downloadable shapefile is current, please compare the date updated on this page to the last updated date on the NREL GIS Wind Data webpage.

Annual average wind resource potential for the state of New Mexico at a 50 meter height.

The wind power resource estimates were produced by TrueWind Solutions using their MesoMap system and historical weather data under contract to Wind Powering America/NREL. This map has been validated with available surface data by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants.

Annual average wind resource potential for the state of Vermont at a 50 meter height.

This data set has been validated by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants. Note: This data is not suitable for micro-siting potential development projects. This shapefile was generated from a raster dataset with a 200 m resolution, in a UTM zone 12, datum WGS 84 projection system.

The wind power resource estimates were produced by AWS TrueWind using their MesoMap system and historical weather data under contract to Wind Powering America/NREL. This map has been validated with available surface data by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants.

Annual average wind resource potential of the northwestern United States at a 50 meter height.

This data set has been validated by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants. Note: This data is not suitable for micro-siting potential development projects. This shapefile was generated from a raster dataset with a 400 m resolution, in a UTM zone 11, datum WGS 84 projection system. The resource information for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla reservation is not being made available as part of this data set at their request.

The wind power resource estimates were produced by TrueWind Solutions using their MesoMap system and historical weather data under contract to Wind Powering America/NREL. This map has been validated with available surface data by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants.

Annual average wind resource potential of the mid-Atlantic United States at a 50 meter height.

States included are: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

This data set has been validated by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants. However, the data is not suitable for micro-siting potential development projects. This shapefile was generated from a raster dataset with a 200 m resolution, in a UTM zone 17, datum WGS 84 projection system.

The wind power resource estimates were produced by AWS TrueWind using their MesoMap system and historical weather data under contract to Wind Powering America/NREL. This map has been validated with available surface data by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants.

GeoTIFF of Wind Power Class values for the state of Alaska. This map shows the annual average wind power estimates at a height of 50 meters. It is a combination of high resolution and low resolution datasets produced by NREL and other organizations. The data was screened to eliminate areas unlikely to be developed onshore due to land use or environmental issues. In many states, the wind resource on this map is visually enhanced to better show distribution on ridge crests and other features.

The following is excerpted from an unpublished report by Michael Brower (2004): "Using the MesoMap system, TrueWind has produced maps of mean wind speed in Indiana for heights of 30, 50, 70, and 100 m above ground, as well as a map of wind power at 50 m. TrueWind has also produced data files of the predicted wind speed frequency distribution and speed and energy by direction. The maps and data files are provided on a CD with the ArcReader software, which will enable users to view, print, copy, and query the maps and wind rose data. "The MesoMap system consists of an integrated set of atmospheric simulation models, databases, and computers and storage systems. At the core of MesoMap is MASS (Mesoscale Atmospheric Simulation System), a numerical weather model, which simulates the physics of the atmosphere. MASS is coupled to a simpler wind flow model, WindMap, which is used to refine the spatial resolution of MASS and account for localized effects of terrain and surface roughness. MASS simulates weather conditions over a region for 366 historical days randomly selected from a 15-year period. When the runs are finished, the results are input into WindMap. In this project, the MASS model was run on a grid spacing of 1.7 km and WindMap on a grid spacing of 200 m. "The wind maps show that the best wind resource in Indiana is found in the northcentral part of the state. The mean wind speed at 50 m height between Indianapolis, Kokomo, and Lafayette, and to the northwest of Lafayette, is predicted to be in the range of 6.5 to 7 m/s, and the mean wind power is predicted to be about 250 to 350 W/m2, or NREL class 2 to 3. In the rest of northern Indiana, the wind speed tends to be around 0.5 m/s lower, and the wind power is a solid class 2. In southern Indiana, a wind speed of 4.5 to 6 m/s and a wind power class of 1 to 2 prevails. The main reason for this wind resource distribution pattern is that the land is much more forested in the southern half of the state than in the northern half. Topography also plays a role, as does the track of the jet stream."

Annual average wind resource potential of California at a 50 meter height.

Annual average wind resource potential for the state of Utah, United States at a 50 meter height.

This data set has been validated by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants. Note: This data is not suitable for micro-siting potential development projects. This shapefile was generated from a raster dataset with a 200 m resolution, in a UTM zone 17, datum WGS 84 projection system.

The wind power resource estimates were produced by AWS TrueWind using their MesoMap system and historical weather data under contract to Wind Powering America/NREL. This map has been validated with available surface data by NREL and wind energy meteorological consultants.

Annual average wind resource potential for the state of Colorado at a 50 meter height. Includes the wind power class, an indicator of likely resource strength. Generated for Colorado by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Navigate to NREL source for most current information.

The site suitability criteria included in the techno-economic land use screens are listed below. As this list is an update to previous cycles, tribal lands, prime farmland, and flood zones are not included as they are not technically infeasible for development. The techno-economic site suitability exclusion thresholds are presented in table 1. Distances indicate the minimum distance from each feature for commercial scale wind developmentAttributes: Steeply sloped areas: change in vertical elevation compared to horizontal distancePopulation density: the number of people living in a 1 km2 area Urban areas: defined by the U.S. Census. Water bodies: defined by the U.S. National Atlas Water Feature Areas, available from Argonne National Lab Energy Zone Mapping Tool Railways: a comprehensive database of North America's railway system from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), available from Argonne National Lab Energy Zone Mapping Tool Major highways: available from ESRI Living Atlas Airports: The Airports dataset including other aviation facilities as of July 13, 2018 is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics's (BTS's) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). The Airports database is a geographic point database of aircraft landing facilities in the United States and U.S. Territories. Attribute data is provided on the physical and operational characteristics of the landing facility, current usage including enplanements and aircraft operations, congestion levels and usage categories. This geospatial data is derived from the FAA's National Airspace System Resource Aeronautical Data Product. Available from Argonne National Lab Energy Zone Mapping Tool Active mines: Active Mines and Mineral Processing Plants in the United States in 2003Military Lands: Land owned by the federal government that is part of a US military base, camp, post, station, yard, center, or installation. Table 1 Wind Steeply sloped areas >10o Population density >100/km2 Capacity factor <20% Urban areas <1000 m Water bodies <250 m Railways <250 m Major highways <125 m Airports <5000 m Active mines <1000 m Military Lands <3000m For more information about the processes and sources used to develop the screening criteria see sources 1-7 in the footnotes. Data updates occur as needed, corresponding to typical 3-year CPUC IRP planning cyclesFootnotes:[1] Lopez, A. et. al. “U.S. Renewable Energy Technical Potentials: A GIS-Based Analysis,” 2012. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/51946.pdf[2] https://greeningthegrid.org/Renewable-Energy-Zones-Toolkit/topics/social-environmental-and-other-impacts#ReadingListAndCaseStudies[3] Multi-Criteria Analysis for Renewable Energy (MapRE), University of California Santa Barbara. https://mapre.es.ucsb.edu/[4] Larson, E. et. al. “Net-Zero America: Potential Pathways, Infrastructure, and Impacts, Interim Report.” Princeton University, 2020. https://environmenthalfcentury.princeton.edu/sites/g/files/toruqf331/files/2020-12/Princeton_NZA_Interim_Report_15_Dec_2020_FINAL.pdf.[5] Wu, G. et. al. “Low-Impact Land Use Pathways to Deep Decarbonization of Electricity.” Environmental Research Letters 15, no. 7 (July 10, 2020). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab87d1.[6] RETI Coordinating Committee, RETI Stakeholder Steering Committee. “Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative Phase 1B Final Report.” California Energy Commission, January 2009.[7] Pletka, Ryan, and Joshua Finn. “Western Renewable Energy Zones, Phase 1: QRA Identification Technical Report.” Black & Veatch and National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2009. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy10osti/46877.pdf.[8]https://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/geo/shapefiles/index.php?year=2019&layergroup=Urban+Areas[9]https://ezmt.anl.gov/[10]https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=fc870766a3994111bce4a083413988e4[11]https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mineplant/Credits Title: Techno-economic screening criteria for utility-scale wind energy installations for Integrated Resource Planning Purpose for creation: These site suitability criteria are for use in electric system planning, capacity expansion modeling, and integrated resource planning. Keywords: wind energy, resource potential, techno-economic, IRP Extent: western states of the contiguous U.S. Use Limitations The geospatial data created by the use of these techno-economic screens inform high-level estimates of technical renewable resource potential for electric system planning and should not be used, on their own, to guide siting of generation projects nor assess project-level impacts.Confidentiality: Public ContactEmily Leslie Emily@MontaraMtEnergy.comSam Schreiber sam.schreiber@ethree.com Jared Ferguson Jared.Ferguson@cpuc.ca.govOluwafemi Sawyerr femi@ethree.com