Getting caught up here on some news that I missed.
I’ve written before about attempts by environmental groups to protect Steens Mountain from energy development.
Environmental groups wanted the state to add Steens Mountain to a list of places in Oregon where energy development is prohibited. But the Energy Facility Siting Council – which decides where large wind farms are located – recently rejected the idea.
Wind turbines near the Columbia River Gorge in 2009. Photo by Sam Beebe.
Governor Kulongoski and Senator Wyden went to Eastern Oregon today to highlight a pair of big renewable energy projects.
For Kulongoski and Wyden, the day began with a groundbreaking ceremony for ZeaChem, a new biofuels facility in Morrow.
The state prison near Pendleton is getting a $450,000 federal grant to install a solar water heating system.
Time is running out if you want to comment on a proposal to ban energy development on Steens Mountain.
Based on a photo by Ted Timmons.
A controversial plan to build a county owned wind farm near Hood River is dead.
County officials came up with the idea as way to make up for falling revenues from timber sales. But many people in the area were opposed, saying it would ruin scenic views, lower property values, and cause problems for wildlife.
There aren’t many places where renewable energy is as popular as it is here in Oregon.
A huge sigh of relief was heard across Eastern Oregon.
The Pentagon says it will no longer try to block construction of a massive wind farm in Gilliam and Morrow counties. At stake were millions of dollars in spending and hundreds of jobs.
Yesterday we told you that Klamath County got a failing grade in a national report on air quality. Turns out there may be more at stake than just a little bit of public embarrassment. The Klamath Falls Herald and News reports that the failing grade could complicate plans to build a $70 million biomass plant in the area.
A biomass plant burns wood to generate electricity. The pollution from burning wood can be high in particulates – small specks of dust and soot. And guess why Klamath County got that “F”. That’s right, because of too many “unhealthy air” days with high levels of particulates. You can see where this is headed. Environmental officials are trying to figure out if the plant will help, or hurt, air quality.
See Klamath Falls Herald And News: Bad air could impact biomass plant
It’s in Massachusetts, not Oregon. But considering there’s at least one proposal to build an offshore wind farm along our coast, I think this is a read-worthy story.
Associated Press: Gov’t OKs 1st US offshore wind farm
By approving the project, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is also rejecting arguments that the project will harm wildlife, fisheries and scenic values.
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.
