Wind Power News: Utah
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.
Beaver aims to be 'renewable capital of Utah'
With the wind-corridor project, the county is fast becoming a convergence point for firms wanting to harness geothermal wells and wind.
Milford — A steady stream of semis hitched to oversized flatbed trailers are rolling through Beaver and Milford these days, hauling 80-foot-long blades to a project site where, once attached to turbine towers, they’ll spin like giant pinwheels above the desert floor.
The turbines will turn energy from the wind into electricity to help meet a growing demand in Southern California.
The . . .
BLM OKs Milford wind project; Firm to build 159 giant turbines across 40 square miles of land
The Milford Wind Corridor, a planned wind-energy facility north of Milford in Beaver County, has received approval from the Bureau of Land Management.
First Wind LLC, a Massachusetts company that wants to build the wind-power project, said Monday that the BLM had conducted an environmental assessment of the project and issued the findings with a decision to approve the project.
“Renewable energy resources are playing an increasingly larger role in meeting our nation’s growing energy demands, and BLM is committed . . .
Box Elder County OKs power line, but reluctantly
BRIGHAM CITY — Rocky Mountain Power is one step closer to bringing a major transmission line through many Box Elder County cities.
County commissioners Tuesday reluctantly approved a general-plan amendment and conditional-use permit for the 345-kilovolt line, which will transport power from a substation near Downey, Idaho, to another near the Weber County line.
The line is the first of its size in 30 years proposed by the utility for northern Utah. . . .
Green blight in Utah County
Imagine the brouhaha if an oil company built a series of 300-foot-high oil derricks along the foot of Mt. Timpanogas. Or if an advertising firm erected billboards as tall as the Statue of Liberty in front of Y Mountain.
The fur would fly.
But see how different it is with the Spanish Fork wind farm. State and local dignitaries line up to praise the turbines that are a visual blight at that end of Utah Valley. The giant white blades . . .
Test to determine site of wind turbine
PARK CITY — Intermountain Healthcare has partnered with the city and the Utah state energy program to install a wind-testing device on property near Quinn’s Junction.
A 70-foot tower will collect data over a six-month period to determine the best spot for a wind turbine that is expected to be used for electricity generation, said Diane Foster, Park City environmental affairs manager.
The state energy program has loaned one of its testing towers to the project, with a value of . . .
Wind farm pitched for area near Milford
MILFORD — A $400 million renewable energy project could begin construction next month and would power roughly a quarter-million Southern California homes.
The plan has received no criticism during a public-input phase that ends Oct. 6.
An open house Thursday in Milford introduced Beaver County residents to the plan that, if executed, would become Utah’s largest renewable energy project.
“It will really put diversity in the energy mix,” . . .
Wind power runs into resistance; Linking into utility grid frustrates Spanish Fork firm
Kyle Christensen moved to Utah last spring from a community in California where solar power was big. He wanted to bring that energy mindset to his company Western Botanicals Inc., which pulled up stakes on the West Coast in 2006 for a cheaper home in Spanish Fork.
“I was kind of turned on by the fact that you could do alternative energy and it could save you real money,” said Christensen. He is co-owner of the $3 million business with . . .
Assessment now available to public
CEDAR CITY — The Bureau of Land Management, Cedar City and Fillmore Field Offices announce the availability of a preliminary Environmental Assessment, draft Finding of No Significant Impact and initiation of a 30-day public comment period for the Milford Wind Corridor Project. The project proponent is First Wind, LLC, — formerly known as UPC Wind Management, LLC.
In September 2007, the BLM hosted several public scoping meetings to begin public discussions regarding this project and to obtain public comment and . . .
Wind power is overrated
An article of Aug. 19 praises the wind-turbine facility at the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon. But it’s misleading. It says this is a 19-megawatt facility and is expected to produce energy 80 percent of the time. But that doesn’t mean it will produce 19 megawatts 80 percent of the time.
I have driven past this facility several times this year. Each time, most of the rotors were stopped with one or two turning very slowly. So, technically, the facility . . .
Should wind power get priority?
A famous oilman is touting windmills as a solution to the energy crisis, and a few Utahns are jumping on board.
T. Boone Pickens says the Pickens Plan will greatly reduce our dependence on foreign oil while providing jobs for rural America. The Utah chapter of his group held its first meeting this month at the state Capitol. Noting that the White House will have a new occupant in January, the Utah group’s president was quoted as saying, “Let’s get ready . . .
