When driving to Palm Springs, California, there are a few distinct landmarks that often raise a few questions and turn a few heads. When passing through nearby San Gorgonio Pass on Interstate 10, you will see two unique sites: wind turbines and dinosaurs.
San Gorgonio Pass is one of the windiest areas in the world and is home to 3,500 electricity-producing wind turbines. The electricity generated by the wind turbines is used by the customers of Southern California Edison Company. The San Gorgonio wind turbines produce approximately 600 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) every year. This amount of electricity is enough to meet the needs of 100,000 typical homes or about 250,000 people.
The wind turbines also provide environmental benefits. By producing electricity cleanly, the state's wind power plants reduce pollutant gases that contribute to smog, acid rain and global warming. Each year San Gorgonio's wind power plants prevent the emission of 3 million pounds of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, particulates and 600 million pounds of carbon dioxide that would otherwise be produced.
You are probably wondering how the dinosaurs fit in with the wind turbines story. Well they don't. While your attention is diverted to the windmills, you will be surprised to have your view interrupted by the sight of two huge dinosaur models. The dinosaurs are part of a rest area near a gas station in the San Gorgonio Pass.
