It’s in the Air
Wind power captures a natural, renewable energy source in our atmosphere and converts it to electricity. Constellation operates 27 wind projects across 10 states that are capable of producing about 1,400 megawatts of electricity, of which about 750 megawatts are Constellation-owned.
Constellation is accelerating the transition to a carbon-free future by providing our customers with clean energy, including emission-free wind power . In addition to its environmental benefits, wind power generation provides revenue for landowners and local communities.
Wind turbines can stand up to 50 stories tall. When wind blows around modern wind turbines, the blades capture the energy and rotate, which triggers an internal shaft to spin. This is connected to a gearbox, which speeds up the rotation. The gearbox is connected to a generator, which turns the activity into electricity. Turbines are grouped into wind projects, which provide power to the grid.
Wind turbines are built for high winds and can withstand extreme weather. They also shut off automatically when wind speeds exceed safety limits.
Wind turbines need to be installed in places with adequate wind resources. America’s windiest spots are off the coasts, in the mountains, and down through the Great Plains to Texas. To aid in site selection, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) publishes its own wind resource maps based on model-derived estimates. Constellation’s own research to determine site viability includes small terrain features, vegetation, buildings, and atmospheric effects.
Once wind energy is on the grid, smaller transmission lines or “distribution lines” collect the electricity and bring it to larger network lines. The electricity then travels to wherever it’s needed.
