U.S. Wind Turbine Database Proves Essential for Armed Services, Regional Grids, Economies, More

One of the most popular and easily noticeable alternative energy sources is from wind turbines, often spotted dotting vast hills and off shore in various parts of the country.

In fact, there are so many wind turbines that tracking and cataloging them has become a burden. Considering that U.S. wind development interacts with a number of other land and airspace uses — like radar for air defense, weather, and general aviation — decisions on wind energy development can’t properly be made without more information on how many there are, where they exist, and what type of wind turbines are currently installed.

The U.S. Wind Turbine Database (USWTDB) provides essential information to researchers and decision-makers in a free, open-source manner. The USWTDB is updated quarterly with information from the Federal Aviation Administration about flight obstacle data, the American Clean Power Association’s (ACP) private wind turbine database, satellite imagery, and online searches.

A collaboration between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and ACP has been ongoing since 2016. They work together to develop, update, and disseminate the USWTDB — the most comprehensive, accurate, and regularly updated wind energy database in the world.

USGS, LBNL, and ACP’s database can verify the exact locations and specifications for turbines to assist in decision-making that affects airspace, weather, and even property values around the country. With 74,511 turbines currently in the database, and 99% of those having visually verifiable locations, the USWTDB is critical to decision-making.

The Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between USGS, LBNL, and ACP has been operational since 2016 and led by team members who developed two of the first publicly available turbine databases a decade ago. Team members interact regularly and collaborate on decisions regarding all aspects of the database via a group email.

The USWTDB implements three primary strategies for tech transfer: the Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) Principles, a user-friendly web application, and connection to other data sources. Since its launch, the USWTDB has been updated 24 times and remains a popular tool for users, with about 17.5 million unique website visitors since 2018.

The USWTBD is a crucial tool serving numerous users in several sectors, and its data enables research that leads to new markets and jobs in the renewable energy space and helps make resources more affordable. For instance, regional grid operators use the technology to determine turbine locations within their jurisdictions and then use weather forecasts to predict the turbines’ electricity generation.

The Department of Defense, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services are among the essential agencies that utilize the USWTDB for their work. Global academics can also utilize the database to study everything from economics to wildlife to sociology.

Next time you drive by a hillside full of spinning blades or cruise along a coastline with a wind farm off in the shimmering distance, consider the work that goes into tracking the tens of thousands of turbines powering grids and economies across America. It is the work of USGS, LBNL, and ACP that keeps things organized and progressing!

Photo Caption: Main page of the U.S. wind turbine database, showing summary information on turbines and wind facilities. 

This technology received the 2025 FLC Impact Award. Learn more here and discover more awardees in our Awards Gallery.