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 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.
Man who died in Skookumchuck Wind Farm trench collapse has been identified
Jonathan F. Stringer, 24, of Chehalis, was identified Monday as the man who died last week in a trench collapse, according to the Lewis County Coroner. The trench work was tied to the construction of the Skookumchuck Wind Farm, a 38-turbine project that is largely in Lewis County. The cause of death was mechanical asphyxiation; the manner of death was accidental, according to the coroner. A second worker was trapped in the collapse, which happened about 11 a.m. Thursday, but . . . Complete story »
1 killed in trench collapse at wind farm in Thurston County
One person was killed when a trench collapsed Thursday at a wind farm in Thurston County. According to the sheriff’s office, two employees were working at the Skookumchuck Wind Energy Project when a trench collapsed on top of them. Crews rescued one person who was partially buried. The other person was completely covered and died. Authorities said the trench was being built near a logging road. The project is slated to add wind turbines to the wind farm. No further . . . Complete story »
Walla Walla’s living bat heroes
Issues bats face are the removal of old trees and native and riparian vegetation — affecting bats’ need for daytime roosts and places to forage. Pesticides also harm them. Wind turbines kill migrating bat species (more than birds). Bats only have one young a year, so populations are easily affected by deaths. Denny reports that bats were once common around Walla Walla Valley, and sightings are now scarce since the advent of wind farms. Complete story »
Hoary bat numbers decline amid wind turbine expansion
Bats are facing multiple threats in the Pacific Northwest as both white-nose syndrome and wind turbines are threatening to decimate their population numbers, according to a study by Oregon State University—Cascades. The hoary bat – which does not hibernate but instead migrates south for the winter – faces an uncertain future because its numbers have declined at a rate of 2% per year, according to Tom Rodhouse, one of the authors of the study. The cause of the hoary bat decline is . . . Complete story »
Wind farm ‘repowering,’ tax credits bring big blades back to Port of Longview
An industry movement to “repower” wind farms to capture tax credits is bringing back a previously dormant cargo source to the Port of Longview. However, the flurry of activity may blow out with the end of one tax incentive in 2020. The port first started handling wind cargo, which includes turbine blades and engine parts, around 2006 amidst the “original wind energy surge,” port officials said in a news release. According to the port’s wind tonnage record, an average of . . . Complete story »
Juniper Fire
On Saturday afternoon, fire engulfed a wind turbine south of Bickleton. Melted sections of the turbine fell to the ground surface, igniting a grass, brush, and juniper tree fire. The Juniper Fire started on Saturday July 21, 2019. The fire grew quickly and was mostly burning in the Pine Creek Drainage area south of Bickleton. The Southeast Washington Interagency Type 3 Incident Management Team 2 assumed command over the fire at 6 a.m. on Sunday. There were approximately 201 people . . . Complete story »
Juniper Fire burning in Klickitat County
A level three evacuation is in place for three houses near where the Juniper Fire in Klickitat County is burning. The fire is currently burning in grass, sagebrush and timber. It started burning around 2:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon. This fire is estimated at 500 acres and growing. It is threatening homes, crops, and infrastructure. The fire cause is under investigation. Crews will be working toward a 100′ containment line around the fire, and aggressively working on burning areas. Just before . . . Complete story »
Fire danger near Bickleton causes evacuation order
Dry and windy weather is feeding flames south of Bickleton. Authorities ordered level 3 evacuations at the Pine Creek Drainage area. Witnesses reported a broken wind turbine started the fire Saturday. Firefighters said the Juniper Fire grew quickly in the Pine Creek Drainage area, south of Bickleton. As of Sunday night, 242 acres had burned. Containment was recorded at 40 percent. In a release, incident commander Leonard Johnson said there are about 201 people working the fire. Crews are trying . . . Complete story »
Brush fire ignited by burning wind turbine in southern Washington
(COURTESY: KATE WATSON) BICKLETON, Wash. – Firefighters are battling a brush fire that has burned several hundred acres in rural Klickitat County so far. The fire began Saturday afternoon when a generator along a wind turbine unit began smoking and caught fire some 300 feet above the ground near Bickleton, according to the Klickitat County Department of Emergency Management. Melted sections of the turbine fell to the ground, igniting a fire in the grass and brush, which quickly spread in gusty . . . Complete story »
‘Juniper Fire’ in Klickitat County burns more than 240 acres, threatens homes, wind farm
The state has mobilized fire crews to fight a fast-moving brush fire south of Bickleton, in Klickitat County, that has burned more than 240 acres, fire officials said Sunday. The Juniper Fire started Saturday afternoon and is burning in grass and brush in the Pine Creek Drainage south of the Yakama Indian Reservation, said Ben Shearer, a public-information officer for a state incident-management team put in place late Saturday by Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste at the request of . . . Complete story »
