Wasatch Wind recently announced a new development of its Pioneer Wind Park, two wind energy facilities that will be located south of Glenrock and Interstate 25 in central Wyoming. The Park will consist of two installations, each with a capacity of 50 megawatts. The projects are expected to generate more than $14 million in tax revenue over 20 years.
PacifiCorp, which does business as Rocky Mountain Power in Wyoming, recently executed two power purchase agreements for all of the electrical output and renewable energy attributes generated by each wind project. Each contract has a term of 20 years. Rocky Mountain Power will use the energy produced by each project to meet the growing needs of retail customers in Wyoming and the other states the company serves.
The obligation for Rocky Mountain Power to purchase energy from each project, and the rates at which Rocky Mountain Power will purchase that energy, was the result of a Wyoming Public Service Commission proceeding addressing federally required power purchases under the 1978 Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act.
The first project located at the Pioneer Wind Park is expected to begin commercial operations by the end of 2011, with the second project following a year later. The infrastructure will be located within the approximately 30,000 acres of the Pioneer Wind Park. Specific locations will be determined as Wasatch Wind continues to collect wind data; survey wildlife and cultural resources; conduct environmental reviews; partner with state and local officials and governments; work with engineering and construction companies to design the wind energy facilities; gather feedback from the community; and obtain the necessary permits, including from Wyoming’s Industrial Siting Council and Converse County.
Projects located at the Pioneer Wind Park will connect to an existing Rocky Mountain Power transmission line via an interconnection agreement compliant with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rules. The projects will transmit power to Rocky Mountain Power’s existing transmission system over a generation tie-line across private lands already under lease. All facilities up to the point of interconnection with Rocky Mountain Power’s transmission system will be the responsibility of Wasatch Wind.
“We very much look forward to working with Converse County and its towns and cities, the State of Wyoming and the public to bring these projects online and to ensure that the local areas continue to benefit over the long-term,” stated Tracy Livingston, CEO and Founder of Wasatch Wind. “We are dedicated to continue working with all members of the community to gather feedback so that we can ensure that any impacts from the projects are fully reviewed and considered and that Converse County and its citizens can benefit from the significant contributions that the two projects located at the Pioneer Wind Park will be able to make.”
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