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Renewable energy for Blue Sky customers comes from a variety of different sources and locations throughout the region:
Wind energy
So far, Rocky Mountain 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.
o 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. Rocky Mountain 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!
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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
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