But despite all that, some say there are certain realities of wind power that will prevent it from becoming a major source of energy for the foreseeable future.

"The drawback with wind power is it can't generate the same volume as coal or natural gas, and it's not as widely available," Eskelsen said. "Availability is a key factor in utility evaluation."

Eskelsen said coal plants are available around 90 percent of the time, while even the best wind sites are only available 30 percent of the time. The low availability means a power provider cannot fall back on it when usage is at its peak, such as a hot summer day.

PacifiCorp hopes to obtain 400 megawatts of total wind capacity by the end of the year and then expand that number to 1,400 megawatts by 2019. The company is interested in acquiring more wind power, Eskelsen said, but the price has to be right.

"The issue for us is that the law requires us to seek low-cost, low-risk acquisitions, and we take that responsibility very seriously," he said.

David Jones is the renewable energy markets editor for Platts, an international energy market research firm. He said while the availability and access to transmission lines pose serious challenges to wind energy in the United States, particularly in the West, the market is still "flourishing."

"Certainly in the U.S., the outlook for wind energy is very bright," Jones said.

Whatever happens with wind power in the state's future, the fates of the Spanish Fork project and other projects in the early phases of development will play major roles.

"We work very closely with the Department of Energy, and it's their belief, and I agree with them, that once you get the project in the ground, you jump-start the industry," Wright said. "It gives people a chance to look at the product, you know, kick the tires and see what it's about."

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E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com