The Bureau of Land Management Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office (BLM) announced the approval of the Mesa Wind Repower Project, located on public lands 11 miles northwest of Palm Springs 1.5 miles north of Whitewater.
The right-of-way holder, Toronto-based Brookfield Renewables, proposes to repower the existing 30-megawatt (MW) wind project, which was built in 1983 on 401 acres. The repowering of the project involves the removal of approximately 460 older generation turbines, and the installation of up to nine new wind turbine generators.
“The Mesa Wind Repower Project is a good example of how evolving technologies can help meet our energy needs while allowing for more efficient use of our public lands,” said Acting BLM Field Manager Jeremiah Karuzas.
Brookfield is in the process of gaining approval to repower another wind farm known as Alta Mesa which was built out between 1987 and 1997. Plans for Alta Mesa include 14 new wind turbines that will replace 159 older units. This project must also gain permits from the County of Riverside. Groundbreaking is anticipated in mid-2021.
In 2018, California set a goal to be entirely powered by zero emission sources by 2045. The BLM and Brookfield both focused on the benefits of decreasing the wind farm’s footprint while still providing substantial renewable energy generation in the windy San Gorgonio Pass.
