Construction Underway on McFadden Ridge I Wind Project
July 30, 2009
LARAMIE, Wyo. – Construction of Rocky Mountain Power’s McFadden Ridge I wind project is underway in Albany County, Wyo., near the towns of McFadden and Rock River. The project consists of 19 General Electric wind turbines, capable of generating a combined 28.5 megawatts of electricity. It is scheduled for completion by late 2009.
McFadden Ridge I will be Rocky Mountain Power’s seventh wind project brought into service in Wyoming within the past two years. By the end of 2009, the company anticipates having enough energy from wind-powered generation resources (owned and under contract) to meet the electricity needs of approximately 375,000 average residential customers over the course of a year, across its six-state service area.
“All turbine components have been delivered to the project site, excavation and foundation work is in progress and the installation of turbines will begin in early August,” said Chris Johnson, principal project manager.
McFadden Ridge I is located near the company’s High Plains wind project, which also is under construction and is scheduled for completion in autumn 2009. High Plains will consist of 66 wind turbines in Albany County, capable of generating a combined 99 megawatts.
Originally, McFadden Ridge was proposed to be constructed in 2010, with a generating capability of up to 88.5 megawatts. Subsequently, Rocky Mountain Power modified its schedule to allow the project to be constructed in phases. Phase I will be completed in 2009, with timing for additional turbines yet to be determined. Factors that contributed to the change in timing included wind turbine availability and efficiencies gained by using the same contractor to construct the High Plains and McFadden Ridge I projects within the same calendar year.
To meet the growing electricity needs of its customers, Rocky Mountain Power is investing in new generation, transmission and distribution facilities in Wyoming and other states, as well as purchasing the output from wind projects owned by other entities. In addition to the energy and environmental benefits of new emission-free, wind-powered generation resources, Wyoming residents also will benefit from increased property tax revenues and job opportunities associated with new wind projects and proposed transmission initiatives.
