Golden Hills North Wind Energy Center — United States of America
Wind power plant in California, United States of America. Approximate location 37.7692, -121.6302.
WindCaliforniaUnited States of America
Golden Hills North Wind Energy Center is a 46 MW wind power plant in California, United States of America. It is operated by Golden Hills Interconnection Wind LLC. Based on reported annual generation of 171 GWh, it can supply roughly 49k homes. It ranks #3799 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2017, it is around 9 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, wind supplies about 10.3% of United States of America's electricity; the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0061222.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 46 MW, Golden Hills North Wind Energy Center is below the median wind plant in United States of America (67.7 MW). Wind turbines convert moving air into electricity; output is variable and site-dependent, and modern turbines deliver some of the lowest-cost new generation on many grids.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 42%, from 171 GWh of reported generation; the median for 1120 wind plants in United States of America that report generation is 30%
- Generation trend
- 10 GWh in 2017 and 171 GWh in 2019 (+1573%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2018: 182 GWh; 2017: 10 GWh
- Share of United States of America wind capacity
- less than 0.1% of 104,873 MW across 1,139 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 937 of 1,139 dated wind plants in United States of America are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Golden Hills Interconnection Wind LLC.
Local climate & thermal context
This wind plant converts the kinetic energy of wind into electricity through turbine rotors. It sits in a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 37.8°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 48% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 30/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #656 largest wind power plant of 1139 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 1139 wind power plants in this dataset, together about 104,873 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Diablo Winds LLC · Wind · 18 MW · California
- Altamont Gas Recovery · Waste · 6 MW · California
- Mariposa Energy Project · Gas · 199.6 MW · California
- Buena Vista Energy LLC · Wind · 38 MW · California
- Golden Hills Wind · Wind · 85.9 MW · California
- Vasco Winds · Wind · 78.2 MW · California
Location
Coordinates 37.7692, -121.6302 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Golden Hills North Wind Energy Center?
Golden Hills North Wind Energy Center is a 46 MW wind power plant in California, United States of America, commissioned in 2017.
How much electricity does Golden Hills North Wind Energy Center generate?
Golden Hills North Wind Energy Center generates about 171 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Golden Hills North Wind Energy Center?
Golden Hills North Wind Energy Center is operated by Golden Hills Interconnection Wind LLC.