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.

The decision is a blow to the Oregon Natural Desert Association, Portland Audubon and other groups trying to keep wind turbines and other types of energy development away from the slopes of this Southeast Oregon icon.

The most immediate threat – in their view – are plans by Columbia Energy Partners of Vancouver to build three wind farms near Steens in Harney County. The three projects are located next to each other, totaling more than 300 megawatts of power and 120-180 turbines. Environmental groups say they should be treated as one single large project, instead of three smaller ones.

Oregon has a list of official State Protected Areas where energy development is off limits. It includes the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area. ONDA and Audubon argued that Steens Mountain deserves to be on the list, too. They say large scale wind development threatens the wildlife and scenic values of Steens.

ONDA Executive Director Brent Fenty says, “There are appropriate places for energy development in Oregon’s high desert but Steens Mountain is not the right place. Steens is an area that the public has made clear should not be developed, but instead should be permanently protected for its iconic vistas and incredible wildlife habitat.”

It probably didn’t help matters that the EFSC meeting where the issue was decided was held in Harney County. Local officials are big supporters of the proposed wind farms because of the jobs they’d create during construction and operation of the facilities.

Related Story:

Wind Farms, Sage Grouse, And Loopholes

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.

ZeaChem’s plan is to use trees from a nearby poplar farm, and other crops, to produce about 250,000 gallons of biofuel annually. It’s using $25 million in federal stimulus money to help build the plant.

Next for the two men, a tour of the Shepards Flat wind farm under construction near Arlington. Shepards Flat is going to be either the largest wind farm in the country, or the largest in the world – depending on who you ask.

Work began on May 21st after the Defense Department said it would not oppose construction. The DOD was worried that the wind turbines would interfere with an Air Force radar station near Fossil. After some frantic meetings with Oregon’s congressional delegation, DOD said it would update the radar station to avoid any problems.

According to a press release from the Governor’s office, these two projects will create more than 700 construction jobs and 330 permanent jobs in Oregon.

It’s about time.

A report from Oregon’s Employment Department shows that the state has been losing jobs in the renewable electricity sector. It says the number of people employed in this field was at 10,809 in 2004, but fell to 9,640 in 2009. That’s a decline of over 10%.

The report covers companies that produce electricity from renewable sources whether it’s a big or small part of their business. For example, it includes utilities that generate power from coal and wind or solar. Those figures don’t include Bonneville Power, which added about 100 jobs during the five year period.

It’s not all bad. Those who do have renewable electricity jobs typically make 50% to 100% more, per-hour, than the average worker. They’re also more likely to have full-time employment.

For More Information:

Oregon Employment Department: Oregon’s Renewable Energy Sector

Related Stories:

Renewable Energy Goes To PrisonOregon Scores High In Renewable Energy RankingsPentagon Drops Objections To Oregon Wind Farm

Here’s the press release from the Department of Corrections.

RECOVERY ACT FUNDS RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT AT EASTERN OREGON CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION

Pendleton, OR – The Oregon Department of Energy has announced that the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) will receive $450,000 in federal funds for a renewable energy project to be installed at the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution. The project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act awarded through the State Energy Program (SEP). These funds are designated for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in public buildings. The U. S. Department of Energy administers the funds, approves the projects and reviews the state’s progress.

ODOC will use the funds to design and construct a solar heating system to heat domestic water for use within the institution. ODOC will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a consulting firm to perform the design for the system. Following completion of the design, ODOC will advertise the project and select a contractor to perform the installation. The Request for Proposals and the advertisement for the contractor following design will be posted on the Oregon Procurement Information Network (ORPIN) at orpin.oregon.gov

“We are pleased to make this award to the Oregon Department of Corrections,” said Shelli Honeywell, manager of the Oregon Department of Energy ARRA team. “Not only will this project generate energy, but the funds will be used to put contractors to work.”

The Oregon Department of Energy received more than 1,100 letters of interest, representing a request of over $2 billion in Recovery Act funding

The Oregon Natural Desert Association filed a petition to protect Steens with the state earlier this month. It would block all energy development within the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management Area, but the most immediate threat is from wind energy.

ONDA says it generally supports wind development, but adds that Steens Mountain deserves some special protection. It’s asking the Energy Facility Siting Council to include Steens on a list of state protected areas. That includes places such as the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

Regardless of how you feel about wind, the view of dozens of tall wind turbines dramatically changes the scenery. The impact of large wind farms on wildlife is not well understood. In a press release ONDA says…

“There are appropriate places for energy development in Oregon’s high desert but Steens Mountain is not the right place. Steens is an area that the public has made clear should not be developed, but instead should be permanently protected for its iconic vistas and incredible wildlife habitat.”

The deadline for comments is Friday, May 28. Email them to energy.siting@state.or.us. The council meets June 11 in Burns to consider the petition.

Steens Mountain is protected by federal law ever since Congress passed the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act in 2000. But ONDA says the law doesn’t specifically prohibit energy development and wants this added level of protection. A Vancouver company, Columbia Energy Partners, proposes building a large wind farm near Burns. It’s being supported by Harney County as a way to create some badly needed jobs.

For More Information:

ONDA: Protect Steens Mountain

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Hood River County Says No To Wind Farm
Pentagon Drops Objections To Oregon Wind Farm
Wind Farms, Sage Grouse, And Loopholes

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.

The plan was to build six turbines – about 300 feet tall – on Middle Mountain within view of Hood River’s famous “fruit loop” of orchards and vineyards. Opponents said the turbines would also be visible from the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area.

What appears to have killed the plan was money. On Monday, Hood River commissioners received a new financial report showing the wind farm would produce only one-third of the revenue the county was hoping to get. Commissioners were also told they’d have to spend about $1 million on planning before construction could begin.

The vote to drop the idea was unanimous.

But opponents are worried that commissioners haven’t given up on their wind farm dreams. A group called the Gorge Forum is gathering signatures for a ballot measure to prevent Hood River County from spending money on wind turbines more than 150-feet tall. They have until June 23 to collect 446 names. Should they succeed, the voters will decide the matter in September.

Another group fighting wind farms in the area is Stop Wind Farms Here.

A new study ranks utilities by how many renewable energy customers they have, and by how much renewable energy they sell. Oregon’s two big utilities, PGE and Pacific Power, rank high in every single category.

It means that many Oregonians are willing to spend a few extra dollars a month to make sure the electricity coming to their homes and businesses are from renewable sources such as wind, solar and biomass.

Here’s how we rank, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory:

Total number of renewable energy customers:

• PGE is #1 with more than 72,000 customers as of December 2009.
• Pacfic Power is second with just over 71,000.

Participation Rates:

• PGE is #2 with more than 10% of its customers in the renewable energy program.
• Pacific Power comes in seventh with a 6.5% participation rate.
• First place belongs to the City of Palo Alto, CA. More than 20% of customers buy green energy.

Total Sales:

• PGE ranks #2 for selling almost 741,000 kilowatt hours of renewable energy in 2009.
• Pacific Power comes in third with sales of more than 578,000 kilowatts a year.

The Pacific Power numbers are little bit screwy because in some categories they include customers in other states, and in some categories they only include Oregon customers.

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.

Work on the Shepherd’s Flat wind project was supposed to start about two months ago. But in early March, the Pentagon put everything on hold when it said the wind turbines might cause interference at an Air Force radar station near Fossil.

This is one enormous wind farm. More than 330 turbines and 845 megawatts of power. About as much energy as a nuclear power plant. 700 construction jobs. And depending on who you ask, it will either be the biggest wind farm in the United States – or the biggest wind farm in the world.

The Pentagon’s announcement led to weeks of discussions between the Defense Department and members of Oregon’s Congressional Delegation. Today, Senators Wyden and Merkley, joined by Congressman Walden, released a statement saying the Pentagon will upgrade the radar station instead of continuing to fight construction.

While good news for Shepherd’s Flat, the congressional statement also notes that it’s unclear how this will affect future wind farms. Wyden, Merkley and Walden say they’ll continue to work with DOD to make sure these kinds of issues are worked out ahead of time, instead of waiting until the last minute.

Related Stories:

Billion Dollar Deal Signed For Mega Wind Farm In Oregon

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

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.

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