Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

GE's Pensacola assembly plant advances wind power in Florida

GE’s Pensacola assembly plant plays a key role in advancing wind power.

GE’s Wind Energy plant in Pensacola assembles 2.5 megawatt turbines, each with the capacity to provide the annual power needs for up to 1,500 homes. The 300,000-sq.-ft. plant, which overlooks Pensacola Bay, is the only wind turbine manufacturer in Florida.

“We are seeing some strong volume in the U.S. wind energy market,” says plant manager Gary Wiesner. “We’re using data gathered from the wind turbines we manufactured five to 10 years ago to drive down cost of wind energy. As a result, our wind turbines have gotten progressively larger and more powerful,” says Wiesner.

Pensacola Wind Energy has a strong partnership and intern program with the University of West Florida and actively recruits military veterans, says Wiesner, a veteran himself.

GE’s Wind Role

  • GE is the largest wind power supplier in the U.S., with nearly 400 projects and an operating capacity exceeding 40 gigawatts, enough energy to power 11 million homes.
  • Total contribution to the U.S. power grid from wind energy in 2018 was above 7%, up from about 2% in 2012.
  • Florida is among several southeastern states that have no operational utility-scale wind facilities.
  • Texas is the largest generator of wind energy. The state boasts more than 13,350 wind turbines that supply 16% of the state’s power needs to 7.28 million homes.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

 

Read more in Florida Trend's September issue.

Select from the following options:

EXISTING
DIGITAL
SUBSCRIBERS

Access Article Now!

DIGITAL
SINGLE
ISSUE

Get a single DIGITAL copy of this issue

$4.95

PRINT
SINGLE
ISSUE

Get a single PRINT copy of this issue

$4.95
plus $3 postage & handling

PRINT SUBSCRIPTION

One year in PRINT

$14.98*
plus a FREE gift!

DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION

One year DIGITAL

$14.98*
plus a FREE gift!

ALL ACCESS SUBSCRIPTION

One year Combo
PRINT + DIGITAL

$24.95*
plus a FREE gift!


CURRENT  PRINT  SUBSCRIBERS

If you are already a print subscriber,
ADD DIGITAL EDITION ACCESS
to your existing subscription here!
(or call our office at 727-892-2643)

* offer valid for new subscribers only