Wind Power News: Washington
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.
Question time for the PUD
What is the basic charge of $7 for? Why do we mail our payments to Clark County? What do the employees at the beautiful PUD building do? Collect payments dropped by there? Do they prepare the billings? What do they do? Now to the November rate increase of 17.5 percent. The reason for the rate increase given was because they bought into two wind farms. Now we find out they closed down the wind farms for five months because the . . .
BPA asked to clarify transmission line plans
Public scrutiny of the Bonneville Power Administration’s proposal to build a transmission line through Clark and Cowlitz counties is well known. But as the BPA crafts detailed plans for the 500-kilovolt line, it’s also faced tough questions from one of the agencies responsible for permitting the project. Last fall, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asked the federal power marketing agency for better justification in eliminating some alternate routes — including a citizen-proposed route some residents have rallied around for . . .
Altering clean energy law highlights its many flaws
The Legislature’s decision to expand the definition of renewable energy was a good move for Washington’s distressed timber industry. But it doesn’t begin to fix the flaws in the “green” power initiative that voters approved in 2006. If anything, the legislative adjustment underscores Initiative 397′s failings. The new bill broadens the measure to make electricity produced from older biomass facilities, such as pulp mills, eligible for the initiative’s renewable energy mandate. It should help keep some mills running and save . . .
Whistling ridge wind farm gets Gregoire’s go ahead
Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire announced her approval Monday of the proposed Whistling Ridge wind power project to be sited near White Salmon on land owned by SDS Lumber and Broughton Lumber. If constructed, the facility would be sited about 7 miles west of White Salmon with turbines in view of Hood River, on privately held lands currently in commercial timber production. Gregoire has signed off on the Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council final order which reaffirmed its initial . . .
Don’t renew sales tax break for wind energy
With every day of rain and every inch of new snowpack, the Bonneville Power Administration edges closer to a repeat of spring 2011, when it shut down some wind generators in response to extraordinary natural and energy market conditions. Bonneville projects more shutoffs as wind power periodically becomes too much of a good thing for Northwest utility ratepayers, and taxpayers, who are subsidizing the industry at the national and state levels. When windmills are shut down, owners lose revenues from . . .
Wind energy project near Gorge should be denied
In 2006, Washington voters passed Initiative 937, the Energy Independence Act. This law requires most of the state’s energy utilities to obtain at least 15 percent of their power from “appropriately sited renewable energy facilities” by 2020. Unfortunately, the term “appropriately sited” in I-937 is undefined and has been largely ignored. As a result, developers seeking to take advantage of huge government subsidies have proposed industrial-scale wind energy projects in highly inappropriate places. The Legislature is weighing potential changes to . . .
Klickitat PUD proposes $2.5 billion power plant under new law
YAKIMA, Wash. — A proposed change in state law would open the way for an ambitious $2.5 billion plan to create one of the region’s larger power generating plants. The plan being touted by Klickitat PUD would use surplus wind power to pump water uphill and hold it for release later to generate power when it’s needed. “I think the need exists and the timing is right for this project,” Randy Knowles, chairman of the 11,000-customer PUD board, said in . . .
Washington state plan expands renewable energy law
SEATTLE — Gov. Chris Gregoire on Wednesday signed a bill that for the first time broadens the definition of renewable energy. The measure makes electricity produced from older biomass facilities, such as pulp mills, eligible for the state’s renewable energy mandate. Supporters say it will benefit rural communities and a struggling timber industry. Since voters approved Initiative 937 in 2006, there have been numerous attempts by lawmakers, utilities and industry to expand what qualifies as a renewable energy source. The . . .
Columbia Gorge wind farm opponents may go to court
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire on Monday approved plans for a wind farm on the north side of the Columbia River Gorge over the objections of conservation groups and neighboring landowners, who fear the project will create unwanted noise, harm endangered species habitat and mar a popular scenic region. Opponents said they may appeal the decision in court. One of the developers, meanwhile, said the approved project – smaller than was originally proposed – isn’t economically viable at this time and . . .
Gregoire approves Whistling Ridge wind farm outside the Columbia River Gorge, but project on hold
Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire on Monday approved a downsized version of the controversial Whistling Ridge wind farm in Skamania County, though its developers say the project is on hold because it’s not currently economically viable. Gregoire’s approval allows up to 35 wind turbines on the north side of the Columbia River Gorge, near the town of White Salmon. Washington’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council approved the project last October provided that 15 of the 50 turbines proposed were eliminated to . . .
