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Decision Launches Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project

Posted on: Wednesday, 19 September 2007, 09:02 CDT

Horizon Wind Energy (Horizon), one of the nation's leading wind power developers, celebrated Washington Governor Christine Gregoire's authorization of the company's proposed Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project (KVWPP) northwest of Ellensburg in Central Washington today.

In March 2007, Washington's Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC), established by the state legislature to provide a "one-stop" siting process for major energy facilities, recommended that the Governor approve KVWPP and exert state authority to override the opposition of the Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners to the 65-turbine wind farm.

EFSEC held an additional meeting in Ellensburg in July to hear from stakeholders and the general public to address Governor Gregoire's request that the Council reexamine the setback between residential structures and the wind turbines beyond the quarter mile distance it established with its draft "Site Certification Agreement."

"The Governor's decision confirms that EFSEC, in conducting its rigorous review of the Project, successfully balanced Washington's need for clean and affordable energy with substantive mitigations that address local concerns," Michael Skelly, Horizon's Chief Development Director, said.

EFSEC's Site Certification Agreement calls for Horizon to reduce the number of turbines at the site by nearly half of what the developer had originally proposed and to make every effort to site turbines away from existing residences of non-participating landowners. Horizon also agreed to adjust the wind farm's operations in response to concerns expressed by the Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners. Even with these cuts, the project will produce enough renewable energy for 30,000-40,000 homes.

"All of us who have worked on the Kittitas Valley Project are grateful to the hundreds of Kittitas County citizens who supported it over the years," Dana Peck said, Horizon's project manager. "78% of local residents strongly support wind power development," said Peck, citing a recent poll conducted by Moore Communications. "We hope that the decisive action Governor Gregoire took today will prompt Kittitas County government to begin working with us as we prepare to build KVWPP," Peck said.

The Governor's September 18 action is the final step in Washington's administrative review of Horizon's Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project.

"This Project is the most thoroughly studied wind farm project in the Northwest," Chris Taylor, Horizon's Northwest Development Director, said. "EFSEC's finding that KVWPP created no significant negative impact has never been contested. Northwest consumers can be confident that a significant, new, clean energy resource is just around the corner."

About Horizon Wind

Horizon Wind Energy (www.horizonwind.com) develops, constructs, owns, and operates wind farms throughout the United States. Having developed more than 1000 MW of wind farms operating in Minnesota, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, New York, Washington, and Costa Rica, Horizon is currently developing a portfolio of more than 9000 MW in a dozen states and expects to bring nearly 1000 MW online in 2007. Horizon Wind Energy is owned by Energias de Portugal, S.A., a major Portuguese utility.

Source: Business Wire

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