June 24, 2015
Utah

Wind project blows back in

San Juan Record | Jun 24, 2015 | sjrnews.com

The proposed Wasatch Wind project, a 62.1 megawatt wind facility set to be located just north of Monticello, has been purchased by sPower, a renewable energy provider based in Salt Lake City, UT.

Three separate wind energy companies have pursued the development of projects in the area for the past 15 years, but a series of complications delayed the projects, until now.

sPower officials state that construction on the project is scheduled to begin this summer and should start generating clean energy by the end of 2015. The project has a 20-year Purchase Power Agreement with PacifiCorp, which does business as Rocky Mountain Power in Utah.

sPower will complete the project which was initiated by Wasatch Wind. Wasatch Wind was proposing a 27-turbine wind farm on land immediately north and west of Monticello City limits. The closest turbine was proposed to be approximately one mile from the nearest residence.

Offficials from sPower were planning to meet with local government officials and stakeholders this week.

“As a Utah-based company, we’re especially pleased with this particular acquisition. Not only will it allow sPower to apply our expertise in responsible green energy development – right in our own backyard – it demonstrates our company’s ‘solution-neutral’ philosophy,” said Ryan Creamer, sPower’s CEO.

“While many companies are aligned with a specific technology, sPower’s ‘technology agnostic’ approach allows us to find flexible, environmentally and economically responsible solutions.”

When fully operational, the wind park is expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 103,800 metric tons annually – the equivalent of removing nearly 22,000 cars from the road each year or reducing CO2 emissions from 241,000 barrels of oil consumed.

“We pride ourselves on a successful history of working closely with local communities. Developing and owning projects is a long term commitment to the regions where our facilities are located,” continued Creamer.

“The sPower wind project will bring positive economic benefits to San Juan County, including local construction jobs, lease payments to landowners and millions of dollars in property tax revenues – all while helping to contain the damaging impact of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/06/24/wind-project-blows-back-in/