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Where does Blue Sky renewable energy come from?

Renewable energy for Blue Sky customers comes from a variety of different sources and locations throughout the Region: 

Wind energy
So far, Pacific Power has made purchases from the following facilities on behalf of Blue Sky customers:

  • Wyoming
    • Foote Creek IV Wind Energy Project (Arlington, Wyo., 16.8 megawatts) – Foote Creek IV is located between Laramie and Rawlins in Southwestern Wyoming – one of the windiest places in America with average wind speeds of 25 mph. The facility generates enough clean energy to power 4,292 average homes each year.
    • Wyoming Wind Energy Center (Evanston, Wyo., 144 megawatts) As the largest wind energy facility in Wyoming, Pleasant Valley’s 80 turbines can generate enough energy to power about 43,000 homes. The farm’s 1.8 mw wind turbines, which are among the world’s largest, have a rotor diameter of 262 feet and a tower height of 220 feet. The facility is located on ranch land currently used for cattle grazing.
  • Montana
    • Judith Gap Wind (Harlowtown, Mont., 135 megawatts) – The Judith Gap Wind project has been in operation since December 2005. The project includes 90 turbines, which when they are all spinning to capacity will generate 135 megawatts and power 350 to 400 homes per turbine. Each turbine is over 250 feet tall and has three 126-feet long blades. The turbines reach energy producing speed at 7.8 mph. Optimal speed is 33.5 mph.
  • Oregon 
    • Condon Wind Project (Gilliam County, Ore., 49.8 megawatts) – The Condon Wind Project has been in operation since the end of 2001. The 83 turbines of the project produce enough energy to meet the needs of 10,513 homes. Farming and grazing continue around the bases of the 274-foot high turbines.
    • Klondike Wind Project (Sherman County, Ore., 99 megawatts (includes phases 1 and 2)) – Klondike Wind Project has proven to be such a successful wind farm that it has been home to three different expansions. The first phase of the project came on line in 2001 and consists of sixteen wind turbines that can generate up to 24 megawatts (MW) of electricity. A second phase of an additional 50 turbines, was completed in 2005. The third phase will consist of an additional 122 turbines.  Klondike was also the subject of a study on the local economic impacts of wind farms.  Read a fact sheet about the results of the study.
    • Stateline Energy Center (Umatilla County, Ore. and Walla Walla County, Wash., 300 megawatts) – Stateline Energy Center, so named because it straddles the Oregon and Washington border, is one of the largest producers of wind energy in the world. Large enough to provide power to more than 72,000 homes, Stateline provided 150 jobs during its construction and employs 15 permanent full-time workers in its operation.
  • Washington
    • Nine Canyon (Walla Walla County, Wash., 63.7 megawatts) Blue Sky customers are buying 40,000-megawatt hours of wind power from Washington’s Nine Canyon Wind Project. Located near the Stateline Wind facility on a dry land wheat farm, Nine Canyon is one the largest public power-owned wind projects in the nation. It consists of 49 turbines, each capable of producing 1.3 megawatts of electricity. Blue Sky customers are buying enough clean energy to power 3,300 Pacific Power homes a year. The project even has a letter of support from the lower Columbia Basin Chapter of the Audubon Society, because great lengths were taken to minimize the facility’s impact on birds.
      Hopkins Ridge (Columbia County, Wash., 149.9 megawatts)Located 15 miles northeast of Dayton, Wash., these 83 Vestas v-80 1.8 MW Turbines can create an average annual output of about 456,000 megawatt hours, sufficient to meet the power needs of 40,000 households. 

As the demand grows we will purchase more wind energy from other facilities in the West. Pacific Power renewable purchases are reviewed and endorsed by local leading environmental organizations. 

Blue Sky funded community projects

Rocky Mountain Power would like to thank its Blue Sky customers who have helped make these projects happen. These actions directly support the mission of the program to encourage new renewable energy development. While Rocky Mountain Power already generates and purchases renewable energy as part of its diversified generation portfolio, the Blue Sky program gives customers a way to support renewable energy and encourage additional renewable energy development.

Projects funded in 2006

Entheos Academy Solar  (Kearns, Utah)
The rooftop solar system at the school is successfully up and running and is integrated into the school curriculum. This is part of the Utah Solar Schools initiative and is the first public school in Utah with solar power!

  • 2.4 kW
  • Completed January 2007

Tracy Aviary Solar  (Salt Lake City, Utah)
The rooftop solar system at the aviary’s Liberty Park bird exhibit is successfully up and running.

  • 5 kW
  • Completed May 2007 

 

Westminster College Solar (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Solar array on the roof of the newly constructed Dolores Dore’ Eccles Health, Wellness and Athletic Center building.

  • 8 kW
  • Completed August 2007

Moab City Solar (Moab, Utah)
Solar array on the roof of the Moab Arts and Recreation Center, and a second solar array planned for the recreation swim center.

  • 20 kW
  • Estimated to be complete in late 2008 for the arts and recreation center and fall of 2009 for the swim center   

Park City Wind (Park City, Utah)
Three small wind turbines to power the Park City ice arena, and additional dollars for solar arrays at the ice arena and municipal golf course.

  • 5.4 kW
  • Estimated to be complete in June of 2008 for the wind turbines and late 2008/early 2009 for the solar arrays

 

Projects funded in 2007

City of Lava Hot Springs (Idaho)
Solar array on roof of blower building at city wastewater facility with educational component on city’s website and onsite signage

·        10 kW

·        Estimated completion date TBD via RFP process

 

National Outdoor Leadership School (Lander, Wyoming)
Solar array on roof of main administration building with system monitoring display and interpretive exhibit for students and public

·        6.48 kW

·        Estimated to be complete in late 2007

 

Casper College (Wyoming)
Wind turbine at Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center to provide a live lab for students and provide education on wind turbine testing and certification

·        10 kW

·        Estimated to be complete summer of 2008

 

Girl Scout Council ofWyoming (Casper, Wyoming)
Wind turbine atCamp Scajaweawith on-site educational exhibit for campers

·        1.8 kW

·        Estimated to be complete in spring 2008

 

Moab Public Radio (Utah )
Solar array on roof of station with educational broadcasting promoting renewable energy and the fact that they’re the first 100% solar powered radio station inUtah

·        12 kW

·        Estimated to be complete in Spring 2008

 

The Leonardo at Library Square (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Solar array on roof of the building with educational displays and exhibits on renewable energy inside this art, science, and engineering outreach facility

·        25 kW

·        Estimated to be complete in mid-2009

 

 

Swaner Nature Preserve (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Solar array on roof of the building supporting the on-site nature education center and assisting them in achieving LEED Platinum status – the first in five states

·        12 kW

·        Estimated to be complete in early 2008

 

Town ofAlta (Utah)
Solar array on roof of city administration building, with educational outreach for citizens and a goal of becoming an EPA Green Power Community

·        3 kW

·        Estimated to be complete in mid-2008 

 

Ogden Nature Center (Utah)
Wind and solar demonstration project as part of the on-site energy and nature education center, including an educational kiosk

·        3.3 kW

·        Estimated to be complete in early 2008

 

Renewable Synergy (West Jordan, Utah)
Solar array on roof of two schools still to be determined in Rocky Mountain Power’s service area and part of the Utah Solar Schools initiative, including an interactive web curriculum

·        2.4 kW

·        Estimated to be complete mid-2008 

 

Utah State Office of Education (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Small wind turbines at four different locations as part of the Utah School Wind Project and including educational plaques at each school

·        7.2 kW

·        Estimated to be complete in the spring of 2008 


Hogle Zoo (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Solar array on roof of elephant exhibit with ground level educational kiosk for visitors

·        10 kW

·        Estimated to be complete in the spring of 2008

 

Clark Planetarium (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Solar array on roof of planetarium with ground level educational kiosk for visitors

·        25 kW

·        Estimated to be complete in late 2008