The public is invited to join in the celebration of the completion of the White Creek Wind Project on Thursday, May 8, at the project site.
It is the largest wind project in the United States developed by public power.
The 205 megawatt wind project has been operating since last November on 9,500 acres of ranchland, 21 miles east of Goldendale. It produces enough clean, renewable electricity to meet the needs of 38,000 Pacific Northwest residences.
The dedication event will begin with tours from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on May 8. A dedication ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will include federal and state legislators and staff, utility officials, investors, local government representatives and the general public.
The White Creek Wind Project is located at 1131 Dot Road, northwest of Roosevelt. From WA State Route 14, at milepost 131 travel north on Old Highway 8 for four miles and then go right on Dot Road for about four miles.
The wind project was initiated by Klickitat PUD (Goldendale), Cowlitz PUD (Longview), Lakeview Light & Power (Lakewood) and Tanner Electric Cooperative (North Bend), to provide renewable electric power to their customers and other utilities in the Pacific Northwest. All four utilities are members of Last Mile Electric Cooperative, a group of 12 consumer-owned utilities and non-profits formed to promote renewable public power.
Project construction began in summer 2006. Siemens Power Generation supplied, installed and commissioned 89, 2.3-MW wind turbines and associated towers and other equipment at the project. RES America Construction, Inc. built roads and managed the balance of plant construction.
Bonneville Power Administration and Klickitat PUD built new electrical substations and transmission lines. Turbine components were shipped to the Port of Longview beginning in June 2007 and trucked to the project site. The project was commissioned and began operating in mid-November 2007.
North American Energy Services oversees operations and maintenance at White Creek. The project is owned by White Creek Wind I, an investment group.
The four utilities have entered into 20-year power purchase agreements with White Creek Wind I. The utilities have the option to repurchase the project after 10 years.
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