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Wind Power News: Utah
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Wind farm is being considered for Summit County
Summit County hosted a public meeting to outline a proposed wind farm development for an area in northern Summit County near the Wyoming border. Predictions suggest the farm would produce enough energy to power thousands of homes. The meeting was well attended by curiosity seekers wanting to know more details about the project. Summit County Development Director, Pat Putt says the construction of the wind farm would have to be approved through a conditional use permit. He says they would . . . Complete story »
County’s first wind farm to get public airing June 27 in Coalville
Summit County might be getting its first wind farm. The project would be on the far east side of the county, about seven miles southwest of the nearest population center, Evanston, Wyoming. Emily Skill, a project developer with the firm that’s shepherding the project through the approval process, Enyo Renewable Energy, said the folks in Evanston will be able to see the turbines. But since the project is in Summit County, it has to pass through the planning process here. . . . Complete story »
Echo Canyon may soon have a wind farm
The drive between Coalville and Evanston may soon feature an additional view of wind turbines. Summit County received a conditional use permit application for a wind farm in Echo Canyon. Summit County Development Director Pat Putt says they’ve been in conversations, planning and engineering the farm with Echo Divide Wind for almost two years. “What they’re proposing to do is to build 100-megawatt wind farm in Echo Canyon, along I-80 just inside the Utah state line,” Putt continued. “About seven . . . Complete story »
Judge issues $50M judgment against ‘abusive’ Utah solar scheme
SALT LAKE CITY – A federal judge has issued a $50 million judgment against a pair of Utah men and their solar energy companies, leveling an injunction that prohibits any more business dealings of that nature. The injunction and order issued by U.S. District Judge David Nuffer on Thursday holds defendants RaPower-3, International Automated Systems, R. Gregory Shepard and Neldon Johnson responsible both jointly and severally, for $50,025,480. That amount is what the court said the U.S. Treasury was defrauded out . . . Complete story »
PacifiCorp challenges PUC staff in controversial $1.5B wind power bidding process
PacifiCorp is defending a $1.5 billion wind power solicitation that has come under sharp attack from Oregon Public Utility Commission staff, emphasizing that an independent evaluator that monitored the process endorsed the results as “the best viable options.” “The independent evaluator is an independent expert appointed and managed by the commission – not PacifiCorp – to ensure that the (request for proposals) process was conducted in a fair and unbiased manner and to ensure that the final shortlist projects are reasonable and . . . Complete story »
Firm studying Scofield area as wind farm site
Carbon County officials have approved a conditional use permit for EDP Renewables-Castle Valley Wind Farm to erect the first of two temporary meteorological or “met” towers near Scofield. Approval of the permit follows a favorable recommendation by the county planning commission, and a public hearing held during the regular commission meeting of Dec. 20. No comments were received at the public hearing. Director of Carbon County Building, Zoning, and Planning Todd Thorne told the commissioners the purpose of the towers . . . Complete story »
Energy Blend: Status of controversial 725-mile super highway for wind power unknown for Moffat County landowners
Since receiving federal approval in December, the TransWest Express Transmission Project still has several hurdles to clear before construction on the 725-mile line can begin. Amid tough economic times for Moffat County, the project promises a short-term boom of construction jobs and much-needed property tax revenues – to the tune of between $600,000 to $900,000, annually – once the line is up and running, according to a fact sheet from TransWest. But when, exactly, that will occur depends upon how quickly TransWest . . . Complete story »
Stung over bias claims with Wyoming wind project, Rocky Mountain Power now seeks renewable energy ideas in Utah
Rocky Mountain Power will now seek proposals for solar projects in Utah and other states to quell accusations that it showed bias in its recent choices on new power-generation investments. Company spokesman David Eskelsen said Thursday the state’s largest provider of electricity will issue its call for new solar proposals in the next 4-6 weeks, while it considers bids to construct the more than 1,100 megawatts of wind generation the company hopes to develop, primarily in Wyoming. State regulators had . . . Complete story »
Wind farm has paid $2.2 million in property tax
The Latigo Wind Farm, located just north of Monticello city limits, continues to be a source of controversy among some in San Juan County. Two years ago, construction crews were working day and night to install the wind farm, a 60 MW project just north of Monticello. The massive blades of the 27-turbine project can be viewed for miles in many directions. At night, the blinking lights on about one half of the towers make the project visible 24 hours a . . . Complete story »
Towering wind turbines generate controversy, income in Monticello, Utah
It was nearly two decades in the making, yet took just a couple months to build, forever changing the landscape of the Southeast Utah high desert, and altering the culture of a small rural town. “What’s happening here, yet again, is an unexpected Old West/New West alliance that is becoming less of a surprise each time it happens,” Canyon Country Zephyr founder Jim Stiles wrote in a column. Stiles is referring to the 27 newly erected wind turbines on the . . . Complete story »
