Wind Power News: Oregon
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Tribes say no to large wind farms
It’s safe to say there will not be any huge wind farms coming to the Umatilla Indian Reservation in the near future. Decision makers, including the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s Board of Trustees, have said “no” to wind farms on tribal land. Wind-energy companies have had their eyes on the foothills of the Blue Mountains as a potential site for wind turbines. The Natural Resources Commission has twice met without coming to consensus over the potential use . . .
BPA proposes plan to pay wind developers to reduce power when rivers high
The Bonneville Power Administration today proposed paying wind energy developers for reducing output to help balance the electricity supply during high river flows. If BPA decides to proceed with the compensation proposal, it would seek to split the cost equally between customers including electrical cooperatives and public utilities like Idaho Falls Power, and wind developers. BPA is releasing its proposal for public review now so the agency can meet a March 6 deadline for filing the proposal with the Federal . . .
BPA offers to split costs when it pulls the plug on wind farms
The Bonneville Power Administration has proposed to cover half the cost of wind farms’ lost revenue when it shuts off their output because there is too much hydropower already being generated in the region. Renewables advocates said Tuesday that the approach is unacceptable. The cost-sharing proposal is the latest bid to end a dispute that began this spring, when the federal power marketing agency accommodated the massive spring runoff and resulting surge in power production by cutting off wind farms . . .
Morrow wind rules fall short of those in Umatilla Co.
An article titled “Wind power protest airs in Morrow County,” printed in the East Oregonian on Saturday, January 28, contains an item worthy of further discussion. Specifically, a quote attributed Jerry Reitmann, one of the primary organizers in the Ella Butte wind power project: “It’s perfectly valid for people to not like the idea of having wind turbines in their neighborhood. But it’s still a private property issue.” While I agree wholeheartedly with that statement, it is important to note . . .
Wind ruling stirs ‘red flag’ warning for Morrow County
The East Oregonian article of Jan. 28 regarding the wind power situation in Morrow County contains more “red flags” for the people of Morrow County. Recognizing the problems the previous Willow Creek Wind Project caused for adjacent landowners, and the county’s refusal to accept their responsibilities that went with issuing the permit, are cause for serious concern. The statement by Mr. Rietmann raised a huge “red flag” for the people of Morrow County. The statement regarding their future plans for . . .
Wind power protest airs in Morrow County
Neighbors of the newly permitted Ella Butte wind farm near Ione protested the project at a Morrow County Court meeting Wednesday. “It breaks my heart to see what’s going on in my neck of the woods due to big corporate greed,” said James Jepsen, owner of Dobyns Pest Control. Jepsen, 47, said his 15-acre spread, an “island of domestic tranquility,” will be ruined and rendered unsalable once the turbines go up. Jepsen quoted studies about the negative health effects of . . .
No more wind power
It is time for our federal and state governments to rethink their energy policies. First there was the rush to produce ethanol from corn to break our dependence on foreign oil with billions of dollars in subsidies. It has now become evident that our ethanol production will reduce our petroleum use by less than 2 percent. The federal subsidies are drying up. But we are stuck with the state mandate for 10 percent ethanol in our gasoline. That costs us . . .
Ruling on wind power questioned
Washington’s congressional delegation is questioning a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s ruling in favor of Northwest wind power generator operators. Eighteen bipartisan Northwest senators and representatives sent a letter Tuesday to Energy Secretary Steven Chu as the region is weeks away from the spring snowmelt season. At issue is FERC’s December ruling that the Bonneville Power Administration discriminated against wind power generators when it limited the output from power generators other than hydroelectric power generators last year during high seasonal water . . .
Wind farm developer announces layoffs
One of the Northwest’s biggest wind and solar power companies is laying off people. Tuesday, Iberdrola Renewables let go about 50 workers out of a nationwide staff of more than 900. The cuts affect 25 workers based at its North American headquarters in Portland. Correspondent Tom Banse reports. Energy company Iberdrola Renewables cited multiple factors for a decision to scale back on new projects. That led directly to layoffs in engineering, construction and development. “The low energy prices and the . . .
Behind Iberdrola’s Portland layoffs: expiring wind-energy tax credits, declining demand, overloaded grid, cheap natural gas
Portland Mayor Sam Adams blames the U.S. government for 25 layoffs announced Tuesday at Iberdrola Renewables Inc.’s Portland office. To Adams, the federal failure to extend a wind energy production tax credit beyond the end of this year has created uncertainty that’s killing orders for renewable-energy producers such as Iberdrola and Vestas Wind Systems, which is also bracing for Portland job cuts. “Without the certainty of that extension, project developers are not doing projects in the U.S., and manufacturers are . . .
