 Courtesy of Puget Sound Energy
Puget Sound Energy and RES Americas, Inc. have entered into an agreement for joint development of new wind farms with potential for up to 1,250 MW combined maximum generation capacity.
By Ken Graham
In early December, Puget Sound Energy and RES Americas, Inc., entered into a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to develop and construct extensive new wind energy generating facilities in Columbia and Garfield Counties. The companies hope to begin construction on the first project, in Garfield County, in the spring of 2011. Work on the first Columbia County project would likely start a year later. The plan calls for construction on projects in the two counties to continue in phases through 2015.
According to the two companies, the new wind projects could have a combined generating capacity of as much as 1,250 megawatts (MW). The Hopkins Ridge project, owned and operated by PSE, which was completed in 2006, has a maximum capacity of 157 MW. The combined maximum generating capacity of the three existing wind projects in Columbia County – Hopkins Ridge and the Marengo I and II projects owned by Pacificorp – is about 367 MW.
Anne Walsh, PSE's Environmental/Communications Manager in Dayton, says that the JDA represents a new approach to wind farm development for the two firms. "With Hopkins Ridge and Wild Horse (a PSE-owned wind farm in Kittitas County), RES constructed the projects and PSE did not take part in development," she says. "This time, PSE is involved from the first development stages."
Walsh says that PSE and RES decided to join forces because of the scale of the projects and past experience. "We've had a great working relationship with RES and we need to keep expanding our renewable portfolio," she says. "We feel this is the best way to accomplish that." The joint agreement calls for the two companies to be long-term partners in these projects.
The new wind turbines will likely be located in an area starting north of Pomeroy and extending west into northern Columbia County. The projects would be connected to existing Bonneville Power Administration transmission lines at a point in northern Garfield County, near the Snake River.
In January or February of this year, the companies plan to file an application in Garfield County for a permit for the portion of the projects to be located there. PSE and RES also plan to complete a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the permitting process for both counties. The initial permit application for the portion of the projects to be located in Columbia County is currently planned for submittal in late 2009. "RES and PSE are committed to siting the projects in a responsible way and to providing ample opportunity for community input throughout the permitting process," says Scott Piscitello, development director for RES.
Besides involving hundreds of construction jobs over a five-year period, the new wind projects, when complete, will likely provide several dozen new permanent jobs in Columbia and Garfield Counties. PSE will soon lease space in the Garfield County Grain Growers building in downtown Pomeroy and plans to open an office there in the first quarter of 2009. The projects will also greatly expand the property tax base in both counties.
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