Ridgetop — United States of America
Wind power plant in California, United States of America. Approximate location 35.0818, -118.304.
WindCaliforniaUnited States of America
Ridgetop is a 46.8 MW wind power plant in California, United States of America. It is operated by Terra-Gen Operating Co-Wind. Based on reported annual generation of 134 GWh, it can supply roughly 38k homes. It ranks #3782 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1994, it is around 32 years old — long-established. 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 USA0054931.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Capacity provenance
The public capacity above is the current source-record value. A 2026 tracker candidate lists 76 MW for Ridgetop wind farm, but it is not used as the public primary value until scope is verified (unit vs operating vs installed/project total).
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000906531; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 46.8 MW, Ridgetop 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
- 33%, from 134 GWh of reported generation; the median for 1120 wind plants in United States of America that report generation is 30%
- Generation trend
- 133 GWh in 2013 and 134 GWh in 2019 (+1%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2016: 152 GWh; 2015: 132 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
- 36 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 Terra-Gen Operating Co-Wind. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This wind plant converts the kinetic energy of wind into electricity through turbine rotors. It sits in a cold semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 35.1°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 29% 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: 38/100 — this site sits in the mid 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 benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion 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 #655 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
- Ridgetop Energy LLC · Wind · 29 MW · California
- Cameron Ridge LLC · Wind · 59.6 MW · California
- Mojave 3 · Wind · 23.5 MW · California
- Oasis Wind · Wind · 72 MW · California
- CTV Power Purchase Contract Trust · Wind · 4.6 MW · California
- Tehachapi Wind Resource II · Wind · 21.9 MW · California
Location
Coordinates 35.0818, -118.304 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Ridgetop?
Ridgetop is a 46.8 MW wind power plant in California, United States of America, commissioned in 1994.
How much electricity does Ridgetop generate?
Ridgetop generates about 134 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Ridgetop?
Ridgetop is operated by Terra-Gen Operating Co-Wind.