Wind Resource Availability
Many areas of the U.S. are well-suited for wind power use. A wind class of 3 or above (on a 7-point scale) is said to be ideal for wind power generation. The Midwest, with large areas of flat open space and consistent wind speeds is an excellent area for wind source development. The eastern and western coastline, western states, and the Appalachian mountain regions also provide good wind resources. The National Wind Technology Center (part of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory) has characterized wind resources on maps of the United States.