Wind resource assessment, which aims to search for and characterize attractive wind regimes, is a fundamental component of wind energy develpment and commercialization. The lack of reliable wind resource data in many areas of the country, together with the lack of knowledge by local interests on how to effectively collect new resource data, can be a significant barrier to the expansion of wind energy activity by utilities. Consequently, the first organized ntional resource assessment program, the Utility Wind Resource Assessment Program (U*WRAP), was initiated in 1994 through a collaborative process initiated by the Edison Electric Institute. Other collaborating organizations included the Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Electric Power Research Institute, and the American Public Power Association. The program has established 34 high-quality wind monitoring stations in seven states co-funded and operated by six utility companies or consortiums.
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