Thursday, March 17, 2005 · Last updated 11:51 a.m. PT
Puget Sound Energy begins construction on wind project
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Puget Sound Energy has purchased and started construction on a wind energy project in southeastern Washington.
The 150-megawatt Hopkins Ridge Wind Project will be on 11,000 acres of wheat fields about 15 miles northeast of Dayton. The more than 80 wind turbines will provide enough energy to power 50,000 homes, the company said in a news release Thursday.
"The Hopkins Ridge Wind Project will be an excellent addition to our portfolio of electric resources," said Eric Markell, senior vice president of energy resources. "It will provide more control over our power supply and minimize the risk to our customers from a volatile short-term energy market."
PSE bought the wind farm from Blue Sky Wind LLC, an affiliate of United Kingdom-based Renewable Energy Systems Ltd. The utility expects to spend up to $200 million on the project, including $180 million to buy and construct the wind farm and $10 million to upgrade the transmission systems of the Bonneville Power Administration and other energy providers, the release said.
Dwight Robanske, a Columbia County commissioner, welcomed the new project, saying it will provide new jobs and as much as $1.3 million in tax revenue for schools and other services.
PSE serves nearly 1 million electric customers and more than 668,000 natural gas customers primarily in the Puget Sound region. The utility also has signed a letter of intent to buy the proposed 230-megawatt Wild Horse Wind Power Project in central Washington's Kittitas County.
