White Creek Wind Project

EPUD purchases enough wind power from White Creek Wind Project to power approximately 3,000 homes. Four Washington consumer owned utilities ― Cowlitz PUD, Klickitat PUD, Lakeview Light & Power and Tanner Electric Co-op developed the White Creek Wind Project in Klickitat County, WA. It is the largest public power initiated wind project in the U.S. EPUD purchased a portion of the Lakeview Light and Power product.

Location

White Creek is located in the Columbia River Gorge on 9,500 acres of ranchland, 21 miles east of Goldendale, WA. It is just northwest of Roosevelt, WA, which is across the Columbia River from Arlington, OR. The photo below was taken from I-84 in Oregon, just west of Arlington, OR.

Construction Highlights

Construction began in July 2006 on roads, electric transmission lines, two substations and other infrastructure. Wind towers, blades and other related equipment were delivered from June to September 2007. Wind turbine assembly began in June 2007 and was completed in October. All 89 units were commissioned and producing electricity in November.

Power production capability

Installed capacity of 205 megawatts (MW). Based on a one-third capacity factor the projected annual output is 68 average MW and will power an estimated 38,000 residences or about 427 residences per wind turbine.
Power output shares:
• 46% ― Cowlitz PUD
• 26% ― Klickitat PUD (Goldendale, WA)
• 26% ― Lakeview Light & Power (Lakewood, WA) and EPUD
• 2% ― Tanner Electric Cooperative (North Bend, WA)

The total project cost was $360 million (in the end it came in 1% less than projected) ― which includes the acquisition and installation of the wind turbine generators, and all other construction and development costs. The four utilities have entered into 20-year power purchase agreements with White Creek Wind. The four utilities have the option to repurchase the project after 10 years. There is the possibility of expansion with this project. as wind studies have shown as much as another 100 MW project is feasible.

(BACK to Power Resources Page)