Here are some key facts about wind power in the state of Utah.
Installed Capacity & Generation
- Utah has approximately 386 MW of installed utility-scale wind energy capacity (as of 2023 data), spread across several wind farms.
- Wind contributes only around 2 % of the state’s total electricity generation, making it a relatively small source of power compared with fossil fuels and solar.
- For comparison, solar in Utah generates a significantly larger share (~10 %).
Utah’s wind capacity factors (how much electricity turbines actually produce relative to their max potential) tend to be lower (around ~23–25 %) than in wind-rich states like Texas or Wyoming.
Major Wind Projects in Utah
Here are the main wind farms operating in the state:
Milford Wind Corridor
- Largest wind farm in Utah with about 305 MW of capacity.
- Located in Beaver and Millard counties in southern Utah.
- Has consistently generated clean electricity—selling power into regional grids.
Latigo Wind Park
- Installed capacity of about 62 MW, active since around 2016.
- Supplies enough power for thousands of homes and cuts CO₂ emissions.
Spanish Fork Wind Park
- One of Utah’s earliest wind farms, with ~19 MW capacity.
- It has been operating since about 2008, making it a long-term contributor to Utah’s wind generation.
Wind Resource & Future Potential
- Although Utah’s wind resources are generally more modest than in states like Colorado or Wyoming, regional assessments have identified areas—especially in western and central Utah—that have higher quality wind potential.
- The state does not currently have any major wind projects under construction, but opportunities remain in parts of Millard, Beaver, and Iron counties where winds are stronger.
Role in Utah’s Energy Mix
- Wind makes up a small slice of generation—about 2 %—compared with fossil fuels (coal and natural gas still dominate) and solar.
- Wind development in Utah has been ongoing but modest because geography offers lower wind resources than in the Great Plains states, meaning other renewables like solar and geothermal have grown faster.
Despite this, projects like Milford Wind show that utility-scale wind can work in Utah, especially in areas with better wind speeds.
Conclusion
Wind energy in Utah today:
- ~386 MW installed capacity across a few utility-scale farms.
- Provides ~2 % of Utah’s electricity.
- Main projects include Milford, Latigo, and Spanish Fork.
- Future wind growth could be possible in select areas, but wind plays a smaller role than solar and other renewables in the state’s clean energy transition.