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.
State seeking public comments before starting environmental review of Klickitat County energy project
The public will have a chance to weigh in on what environmental issues state officials should look at with a proposed $2.5 billion renewable energy project in Klickitat County. Free Flow Project 101 LLC is proposing to build a system of reservoirs and a hydroelectric generator to “store” excess energy from the Goldendale area’s wind farms. State Department of Ecology Officials are in the process of preparing an environmental impact statement for the project. The purpose of the hearings, scheduled . . . Complete story »
Will wind farms raise power prices and increase blackouts? Benton PUD thinks so
Adding more wind turbines in the Northwest is a bad idea, says the biggest public utility district in the Tri-Cities region. The drawbacks of adding more wind farms outweigh the possible small environmental benefit and could raise electric prices locally, says the Benton Public Utility District. The Benton PUD, with 54,000 customers in the Tri-Cities area, issued a formal declaration that it does not support further development of wind power in the Pacific Northwest. It is concerned that increases in . . . Complete story »
WA state will decide permit for 235-turbine wind farm near Tri-Cities
A Colorado-based company plans to apply to the state of Washington for approval to build the Horse Heaven Wind Farm just south of the Tri-Cities in the coming months. Plans announced so far call for the wind farm to stretch along 24 miles of the ridgeline of the Horse Heaven Hills south of Kennewick to near Benton City. It would include up to 235 wind turbines, plus solar panels and battery storage. Scout Clean Energy had initially said it would . . . Complete story »
Horse Heaven wind farm project offers few benefits for Tri-City economy
The Horse Heaven Hills wind farm project planned by Scout Clean Energy (Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business, May 2020) would stretch along 24 miles of ridgeline from south of the Tri-Cities at Jump-Off Joe Butte to near Benton City. As many as 212 wind turbines would be placed in several rows, each turbine 500 feet tall. We oppose such large-scale projects that alter our skyline and our outdoor quality of life. The Tri-City region is a hub for electric power . . . Complete story »
‘Have you ever?’ Wind turbine blunder causes Tri-Cities highway stir
It wasn’t your normal road hazard. Drivers on Highway 395 south of Kennewick on Wednesday were stopped in their tracks by an unusual sight. A 240-foot-long wind turbine blade was broadside across four traffic lanes near Ridgeline Drive about 2:20 p.m. Washington State Patrol Trooper Chris Thorson tweeted this reaction: “Have you ever taking the wrong turn, then have to back up your 240 foot long trailer (wind mill blade) in order to get turned around? Yeah, neither have I . . . Complete story »
‘No more wind.’ WA state utility questions efficacy of wind farms for power generation
A road trip through the amazing landscapes of Eastern Washington is like being in a classroom with wheels and a windshield. Even if you never venture off the interstate, you’ll learn a lot just through observation about geography, geology, modern agriculture – and energy policy. A recent – recent, as in the last two decades – addition to those landscapes is the wind farm, each with dozens of three-bladed turbines distributed across ridge tops and slowly churning away as they generate electricity. Those . . . Complete story »
Injured worker says leaders of Skookumchuck project fostered culture of recklessness
An injured worker with the Skookumchuck Wind Project is alleging that leading contractors are fostering and promoting an unsafe work culture that is resulting in preventable work injuries and incidents on the remote site where a 24-year-old Chehalis man died earlier this year. One incident involving a “serious leg injury” is currently being investigated by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Blake Bennett, a safety and health manager with Mountain Crane Services, told the Nisqually Valley News that . . . Complete story »
235-turbine wind farm planned south of Tri-Cities wants to add something more
Scout Clean Energy is expanding its proposal for a wind farm south of Kennewick to add solar and battery storage. The revised proposal for the Horse Heaven Wind Farm would increase the total generation possible from 600 megawatts of electricity to 850 megawatts. Some of the increased generation could come from expanding the possible maximum number of turbines from 212 to as many as 235. The expansion of the proposed project along 24 miles of the ridgeline of the Horse . . . Complete story »
After investigation, L&I fines three companies for wind farm incident that killed Chehalis man
Three companies connected with the Skookumchuck Wind Farm project located on the Thurston-Lewis county border have been collectively fined more than $500,000 by the Department of Labor and Industries in connection with a January trench collapse that killed a 24-year-old Chehalis man, according to a Thursday new release from the state agency. An investigation by Labor and Industries found that the companies had operated with “numerous safety violations in connection with the incident.” Renewable Energy Systems-Americas (RES-Americas) System 3 LLC . . . Complete story »
Colorado firm plans 600-megawatt Horse Heaven Wind Farm
A 600-megawatt wind farm south of Kennewick will employ 300 during construction and help cement the region’s status as Washington’s center for wind energy. Scout Clean Energy of Boulder, Colorado, will apply for a conditional use permit from Benton County for its Horse Heaven Wind Farm project later this year. Pat Landess, spokesman for Scout, said the project is on schedule although it has had to change its public outreach strategy because of the coronavirus pandemic and Washington’s continuing stay-home . . . Complete story »
