Vancouver, Wash., company looks to locate a total of four projects in Harney County
By Lauren Brown and Randy ParksBurns Times-Herald
In Harney County’s quest to re-invent itself economically, options such as harvesting juniper for fuel and other biomass energy projects have emerged. Now, another energy solution, which has been flying under the radar for a couple of years, is on the table: wind energy.
Columbia Energy Partners has three permit requests that will come before the Harney County Planning Commission at the Aug. 20 meeting. These wind projects would all be located in the south end of the county. The company already has one project on the east side of Mann Lake Ranch in the works. The permit for this project was approved by the county in the spring of 2007.
South end projects
Columbia Energy Partners (out of Vancouver, Wash.) President Chris Crowley and Vice President of Project Development Marl Kane are excited to have a slight edge on the competition for wind in Harney County. “There are a lot of companies looking at projects in this area,” Crowley said.
His company already has a project running in the Columbia Gorge. While their Gorge project utilizes the strong wind there during the summer months, the Harney County projects would provide a strong source for wind during the winter months. “We’ve found a windy place at a time when that energy is in high demand,” said Crowley.
He believes in his company’s projects from a moral standpoint because they use a renewable resource to provide green energy.
“It doesn’t create pollution,” he said. Of all the renewable forms of energy, Crowley said wind is by far the best way to generate a large amount of energy.
Columbia Energy’s wind projects will each consist of approximately 45 wind turbines, capable of producing 100 megawatts of power, or enough to power 30,000 homes.
The turbines stand 80 meters high, with three blades that create a 92-foot diameter. The turbines are constructed on the ground, lifted by crane to a vertical position and then placed on a base that extends approximately 30 feet into the ground.
Once winds reach a speed of approximately 10 miles per hour (mph), a computer within the turbine switches it on, and the blades begin to turn at a rate of 13-18 rotations per minute (rpm). Built-in sensors are used to keep the blades turned into the wind, and the blades themselves are also automatically adjusted for maximum output of energy.
The rotor, which turns the blades into the wind, is capable of turning 360 degrees, but if it makes three complete revolutions in one direction, it will then shut down the blades and turn three revolutions in the opposite direction so the cables connected in the base don’t become tangled.
The turbines are also programmed to slow themselves down by blade adjustments if winds are in excess of 50 mph. The number of turbines in operation at any one time depends on wind direction and siting of the turbines. Crowley was quick to point out that the energy generated by these projects would not power homes in Harney County.
“These projects are not being designed to serve local customers,” Crowley said. So locals who get their power from Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative or Harney Electric Cooperative don’t need to worry about rate changes.
Economic boon
The real boost to Harney County in these wind energy projects would be in their construction, contribution to the county tax base and long term maintenance.
It will cost Columbia Energy more than $200 million to build each project. While the construction phase can be completed fairly quickly, Crowley said they will employ about 200 people and will be using as many local workers as possible. Once the construction phase is done, each project will employ eight to 12 people for long term maintenance — a total of 32 to 48 jobs in Harney County.
“To have wind power come to Harney County is going to be significant from an economic standpoint,” Crowley said. He went on to point out that it was of paramount importance to Columbia Energy to establish a good rapport with the people in Harney County.
Two out of the three proposed projects are on private land, while the third is on state property near Riddle Mountain. Columbia Energy Partners will hold a series of town hall meetings hosted by the Harney County Community Response Team in September.
These meetings will give locals a chance to ask questions and comment on the proposed projects. So far, Crowley said he has truly enjoyed getting to know the people of Harney County.
“We’ve had a great reception here, and we really appreciate it,” he said. Harney County Judge Steve Grasty pointed out some benefits of having the wind projects in the county. “This is the best opportunity for job growth that’s happened in Harney County for a long time,” Grasty said. “It also assures some of our culture, like ranching and the outdoors, remains intact. I think people in Harney County realize, just like everyone else in the country, we need to get away from dependence on foreign oil, and this is a good start.”
Green energy
Crowley said that what he likes most about wind energy is its small carbon footprint on the environment. Cows can graze right up to the base of the turbines, and after the construction of the projects, Columbia Energy will go back and restore and revegetate the land.
“I was reading about wind power in 2000, and I was fascinated because wind is one thing that unites the west and east sides (of the state),” he said, noting that while the two sides fight about a lot of things (i.e. grazing, owls, transportation, the environment, etc.), wind energy is one thing people can agree on. “Everyone wants green power,” he said.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:50 am
I am very excited to hear this about Harney County, and thank you for the story about it. I believe the U.S. needs to stop its dependence on foreign fuel for political, economic and environmental reasons.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
What a great idea of windpower, very ‘green’ energy. I remember at one point, it was discussed brought up by Dave Evans, a former EPA coordinator for the burns paiute tribe approached the Tribal Council to do a project like this - they declined…hmmm, makes one wonder why they would do such a thing. It was a great project in the making, however, it is great to see someone has taken the initiative to take advantage of the wind power in that area. Kudos to those who chose to take the ‘reigns’ and provide jobs for a destitute part of Oregon!
August 14th, 2008 at 8:53 am
To me the wind mills are beautiful. They are like living sculptures that ease our dependence on fossil fuels. To harness the wind and sun to help us live is definitely the way we should be headed. Thank you so much for your efforts for everyone’s benefit.
August 14th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Wind power is one of the right ways to go to achieve energy independance. One of the unfortunate tradeoffs may be the destruction of large amounts of flying birds. They seem to be unable to avoid the moving turbines. There are statistics avaliable which demonstrate the unfortunate kill rate and it is much higher in migratory paths. Hopefully, this has been taken into account.
August 16th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Out of curiosity, will the people manning these facilities need to build a community out there to live in? I assume the commute would be a pain.
Still, it is laudable these efforts are being made and something positive is coming to this area. About time.
September 12th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
I think these wind farms….ranches.
Are a great idea, especially for Harney County. The economics of this area have been hard hit over the years, and this could be very beneficial. I have read many of the articles from many other sources, like the Oregonian and a few others. There seems to be a large environmental concern over the sage grouse and other animals. Honestly though, it seems that most of these organizations with these concerns are located in places like Portland and Bend. They don’t even live out here, or have their headquarters here. Maybe they should apply some “good” science and start an actual study concerning these things. Then maybe what they have to say may have more merit with the people that actually live here and want this.
September 12th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Oh heres an excerpt from an article post on Treehugger.com:
“Are wind turbines benign carbon-free power sources or avian death traps that blight the landscape? New numbers have been tossed into the fray, yet we’re no closer to achieving common ground. (No surprise there.)
It takes 30-plus turbines to reach a kill rate of one bird per year, according to a recent report by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences on the environmental impacts of wind-energy projects, based on 14 studies they felt superlative. A number of caveats were attached to the figure, however, including the acknowledgment that rates can vary by site and that endangered species such as the bald eagle are particularly worth avoiding.
However you look at it, though, birds in the United States seem to die in turbine blades at a rate no higher than 40,000 a year. Deaths by dastardly domestic felines, on the other hand, number in the “hundreds of millions.”
Here is the actual link to the article,
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/05/cats_more_letha.php
Larger birds like Raptors might be more susceptible according to the article, I’d still like to see a local study though.