Wind turbines in Eastern Oregon. Photo by John Womack.
When it comes to building wind farms in Oregon, the size of the project really does matter.
Small wind farms, those producing 104 megawatts or less, go before county governments for approval. Larger wind farms require state permission. The process is very different, depending on which government makes the decision. The state process involves consulting with ODFW on impacts to wildlife and is more expensive.
So what’s to stop a wind developer from taking a big wind farm and breaking it up into smaller projects to avoid state regulations?
Not much according to some environmental groups.
That’s why the Oregon Natural Desert Association, the Oregon Sierra Club and the Audubon Society of Portland went before state regulators earlier this month asking them to fix the rules so wind developers can’t game the system.
See Earlier Story: Wind Farms, Sage Grouse, And Loopholes
The Energy Facility Siting Council is expected to take up the issue again at its next meeting, April 30. But in the meantime, it’s taking public comments on the issue.
So here’s your chance to have a say. The deadline is 5:00pm on April 2nd, a week from today.
For e-mail comments send them to:
- energy.siting@state.or.us
Regular mail should be addressed to:
- Oregon Department of Energy
- Attn: Energy Siting
- 625 Marion St. NE
- Salem, OR, 97301
For more information see this page from ONDA.
Conservation groups ask Oregon Department of Energy to fix energy permitting loophole
