California wind capacity exceeds 1,000 MW

Historical era

Gas, nuclear & early renewables (1980–2004)

Natural gas and nuclear held steady shares while PURPA and tax credits seeded wind and solar.

Nearby on the timeline

• 1984 First U.S. wood-fired plant for electricity primary use
• 1986 Chernobyl — U.S. nuclear safety reforms
• 1983 SEGS I — first U.S. commercial solar trough plant

Sources

• EIA Energy Kids — Wind