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Palmdale Water District - Effective use of Natural Resources |
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Anyone that lived in California during the energy crisis experienced at one time or another an electricity blackout either directly or indirectly. This period of time also saw record increases in energy rates throughout the state and were felt by everyone. In response to the increased electricity costs, the Palmdale Water District conducted studies into different electrical generation options to help offset future electricity rate increases.
These studies included the generation of electricity via conventional and alternative energy sources to operate our facilities. The studies also looked at the possibility of the District becoming an electric provider to serve our existing and future customers. |
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Solar Energy at PWD |
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Power by Wind |
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Using the sun as an energy source is safer and cleaner than coal, oil, or nuclear energy sources and it does not deplete the earth's natural resources. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity whenever sunlight is present even in cloudy or overcast conditions. The Palmdale Water District has developed a 30 kW solar array to evaluate the effectiveness of these systems.
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Like solar, wind energy is a clean source of energy and helps reduce smog, acid rain, and greenhouse gas emissions. Energy from wind is created as air flows past the rotor of a wind turbine. The rotor spins and drives the shaft of an electric generator that produces electricity. Because the conditions of the Antelope Valley suit well with Wind energy production the Palmdale Water District has developed a system to ensure power for its water treatment facility.
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Hydro-electric Energy Systems |
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Future Energy Production |
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Hydroelectric generators create power through the velocity of water. Water flows into the turbine, and the velocity of the water spins the turbine causing the generator to make power.
An existing hydroelectric generating facility is located at Palmdale Lake where water is released into the Lake from the State Water Project
(or the California Aqueduct). Currently the Palmdale Water District is in the process of re-licensing and upgrading of this facility. |
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No one knows for sure what will be used for future sources of electric energy production. But one thing is for sure the continued depletion of resources such as natural gas, coal, and oil will drive the cost of electricity up. Because of this fact the Palmdale Water District's Board of Directors have taken the steps necessary to utilize natural resources such as sun and wind energy found in abundance in the Antelope Valley. |
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Topic Related Links |
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Solar Topics |
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Wind Topics |
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• Solar Electric Power web site |
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• EERE - Wind Energy Technology |
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• The American Solar Energy Society |
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• American Wind Energy Association |
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• EERE - Solar Energy Technology |
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• Wind Energy in California |
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• National Center for Photovoltaics |
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• National Wind Technology Center |
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General Topics |
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• U.S. Department of Energy |
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• National Renewable Energy Laboratory |
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• U.S. DOE - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) |
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• California Energy Commission |
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