[8], Hawaii has the potential to install 3,000 MW of wind power, capable of generating 12,000 GWh/year with 80 meter hub heights operating at 30% capacity factor or more. It's easy. By 2004 Kamaoa accounts began to show up on a Hawaii State Department of Finance list of unclaimed properties. Tory Aardvark, the climate-change denying bastion of disinformation likes the US-only version, although their blog entry quotes the origination of the myth which talks about the world-wide number, so Aardvark manages to get it wrong twice in one post. Thousands of abandoned wind turbines littered the landscape of wind energys California big three locationsAltamont Pass, Tehachapin (above), and San Gorgonioconsidered among the worlds best wind sitesCalifornias wind farms comprising about 80% of the worlds wind generation capacityceased to generate much more quickly than Kamaoa. Its a pretty flexible number and a pretty flexible and well-traveled myth. Updated November 24thIn answer to several allegations that the number of abandoned wind turbines was made up, the following quote from the article and link will confirm this figure to be true: Californias wind farms then comprising about 80% of the worlds wind generation capacity ceased to generate much more quickly than Kamaoa. I can't even imagine how many tax payer dollars have been wasted on this boondoggle and these rusting hulks littering the landscape and killing endangered birds. Are all wind turbines that arent spinning permanently inactive? The problem with wind farms when they are abandoned is getting the turbines removed, as usual there are non Green environmentalists to be seen: The City of Palm Springs was forced to enact an ordinance requiring their removal from San Gorgonio. S When it is not blowing, they require full-time backup from conventional power plants. But its haunted not by Hawaiis legendary night marchers. What does this imply for the possible number of inactive wind turbines? I studied the available science papers and tomes such as Rodales Passive Solar Home which I still have and The Mother Earth News.