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Mean wind speed, monthly profiles, and energy potential at 42.45°N, 73.25°W
Average wind speed at 100m hub height for each month of the year.
Pittsfield experiences peak winds during March (7.07 m/s) with lowest speeds in July (4.54 m/s). The seasonal pattern shows strong winter and spring winds with calmer summer conditions.
The ratio between peak and minimum monthly wind speed is 1.56, indicating significant seasonal variation. Energy production will be notably higher during windy months, which should be factored into PPA pricing and revenue projections.
Wind speed increases with height due to reduced surface friction. Modern turbines typically operate at 80-120m hub height.
| Height | Wind Speed (m/s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10m | 3.17 | Standard measurement height |
| 50m | 4.82 | Small/distributed turbines |
| 80m | 5.44 | Mid-size turbines |
| 100m | 5.77 | Modern utility-scale turbines |
Massachusetts ranks #34 nationally for wind energy capacity, making it a growing participant in the US wind energy market. The state's coastal bluffs and ridges define its wind resource characteristics across different regions and elevations.
Massachusetts has a small but growing wind energy sector with approximately 0.05 GW installed. As turbine technology advances and development costs decrease, additional sites across the state are becoming economically viable.
Wind resources in Massachusetts are concentrated along ridgelines and coastal areas. The Northeastern United States is increasingly focused on offshore wind development, but onshore sites continue to play an important role in the region's renewable energy portfolio.
The mean wind speed in Pittsfield, Massachusetts is 5.77 m/s at 100m hub height, 5.44 m/s at 80m, and 3.17 m/s at 10m. Wind power density at this location is 117.6 W/m², classified as IEC Wind Class IV.
Pittsfield has a wind quality rating of "Moderate" based on its mean wind speed of 5.77 m/s at hub height. This location has limited wind resources for large-scale development, but distributed or small-scale wind may be viable. Peak winds occur in March (7.07 m/s) with lowest speeds in July (4.54 m/s).
Small or distributed wind turbines may be most appropriate for this site. Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) or small horizontal axis turbines designed for low-wind environments should be evaluated for site-specific conditions.
Based on the mean wind speed near Pittsfield, a modern 3 MW turbine could produce approximately 4.7 GWh per year (capacity factor ~18%). That is enough to power roughly 450 average American homes. A 100 MW wind farm at this location could generate approximately 156 GWh annually, worth $5463.2M at $35/MWh wholesale electricity prices.
Explore wind data for nearby cities, sorted by wind quality.