Published: Thursday, May 24, 2007
PUD securing wind energy for 4,000 homes
As part of a continuing shift to buy more renewable electricity, Snohomish County PUD announced this week that it is buying enough wind energy to keep the lights on in about 4,000 homes.
The utility will spend about $3 million per year depending on how much the wind generators at the new White Creek Wind Project produce. The new wind farm is located in south central Washington, along the Columbia River Gorge.
Electricity production is expected to start in January.
The PUD has signed up to buy 10 percent of the wind farm's output, seven megawatts on average, said Neil Neroutsos, a PUD spokesman.
A new state law approved by voters in November requires that the utility gradually increase the amount of renewable energy it sells to its customers to 15 percent by 2020. The utility is also exploring using the tidal currents in Puget Sound to generate electricity.
"This wind power purchase is consistent with our commitment to a diverse portfolio of clean, renewable resources," said Steve Klein, the PUD's general manager.
"Wind is an abundant, inexhaustible energy source that emits no carbon into the atmosphere. The Columbia Gorge is a good location to site new wind facilities because of strong winds in the area."
The PUD also gets electricity from two Snohomish County co-generation power plants that are fueled by wood waste, Neroutsos said.
Electricity that is generated from the steam when wood at the mills is burned is considered green power. The PUD gets electricity from generators at mills in Everett and Darrington.
The utility also gets electricity from burning methane produced at a landfill in Klickitat County and from a PUD-owned hydroelectric project in the Sultan Basin area.
Reporter Lukas Velush: 425-339-3449 or lvelush@heraldnet.com.
The utility will spend about $3 million per year depending on how much the wind generators at the new White Creek Wind Project produce. The new wind farm is located in south central Washington, along the Columbia River Gorge.
Electricity production is expected to start in January.
The PUD has signed up to buy 10 percent of the wind farm's output, seven megawatts on average, said Neil Neroutsos, a PUD spokesman.
A new state law approved by voters in November requires that the utility gradually increase the amount of renewable energy it sells to its customers to 15 percent by 2020. The utility is also exploring using the tidal currents in Puget Sound to generate electricity.
"This wind power purchase is consistent with our commitment to a diverse portfolio of clean, renewable resources," said Steve Klein, the PUD's general manager.
"Wind is an abundant, inexhaustible energy source that emits no carbon into the atmosphere. The Columbia Gorge is a good location to site new wind facilities because of strong winds in the area."
The PUD also gets electricity from two Snohomish County co-generation power plants that are fueled by wood waste, Neroutsos said.
Electricity that is generated from the steam when wood at the mills is burned is considered green power. The PUD gets electricity from generators at mills in Everett and Darrington.
The utility also gets electricity from burning methane produced at a landfill in Klickitat County and from a PUD-owned hydroelectric project in the Sultan Basin area.
Reporter Lukas Velush: 425-339-3449 or lvelush@heraldnet.com.
Related
- PUD to share details on tidal power 11/12/07
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