Wind power is produced by using large generators to harness the kinetic energy of wind. It is gaining importance as a large-scale source of renewable energy, and new wind farms are being developed worldwide.



In the Texas Panhandle of the United States, an area previously known for fossil fuel production is undergoing a rapid surge in wind energy development. One example is the Longhorn North Wind Project, which was initiated in late 2013 and expected to be fully operational in 2015. When completed, the installation will provide approximately 200 megawatts of power from 100 wind turbines. The area covers almost 57 square kilometers (22 square miles), and is only one of many new wind farms that are being developed in this region of Texas.



These two images show the Longhorn North Wind Project area in December 2013 and one year later in December 2014. The irregular white lines in the later image are access roadways that support construction of the new wind turbines and connection to major transmission networks in the area. The small bright dots on those roadways represent individual turbine locations.



Another change in the later image is an increased number of green fields and small lakes filled with water. In September 2014, remnants from a tropical storm brought heavy rain to this part of Texas, which had been in a drought since 2011.



As wind energy sources continue to expand in the United States and worldwide, Landsat imagery will be useful for monitoring the land changes associated with this development. The consistent, repetitive images from Landsat can also provide a valuable record of the weather- and climate-induced influences as they occur on the Earth’s landscape.