Wind

The House is expected to vote this week on changes to Oregon’s Business Tax Credit. Better known as BETC (pronounced Betsy), the tax credits have played a huge role in boosting renewable energy in the state. BETC has turned out to be so popular, that legislators are now worried the credits have become too expensive....
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General Electric says it’s signed a $1.4 billion dollar deal to build and supply turbines for a massive wind farm near Arlington. Called the Shepherd’s Flat Wind Farm, it covers about 32,000 acres in Gilliam and Morrow counties. GE says it will provide 338 turbines that will produce about 845 megawatts of power. Construction is...
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Save Money On New Light Bulbs Energy Trust of Oregon is sponsoring state-wide discounts on compact fluorescent light bulbs. No coupon necessary. Retailers across the state are dropping prices. For a complete list of where to get the discount, see this story from the Salem Statesman Journal. Maybe The Dam Should Stay Some in Jackson County think tearing...
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The Bonneville Power Administration is getting an earful from Southwest Washington residents who aren’t happy with the idea of a new high voltage power line near their homes. Hundreds of people have attended the first two public meetings on the proposal. KATU and the Columbian posted stories this morning about last night’s meeting at Clark...
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Saying it has to do something to meet the area’s growing demand for electricity, the Bonneville Power Administration is considering a new 500-kilovolt power line in Clark and Cowlitz counties of Washington. The new line, roughly 70 miles long, would run from Castle Rock, Wash. to Troutdale, Ore. The actual length would depend on which...
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As large trucks loaded with wind turbines roll eastward on I-84, they’re not getting quite the warm welcome they once received. The newest sign of frustration over the growing size, and numbers, of wind farms in Eastern Oregon is this article in the East Oregonian newspaper.  Richard Jolly of Milton-Freewater wants Umatilla County to adopt...
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The amount of electricity generated by wind power in the United States grew more than 50% last year to more than 25,000 megwatts. Oregon didn’t do so badly either. The state now generates more than 1000 megawatts of wind energy, putting it in the top seven of wind producing states. Those are some...
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Green remodeling comes to Clark County. Habitat for Humanity has opened the area’s first ReStore. That’s where you can buy used and leftover building materials. The money goes to support Habitat’s operations in the Portland-Vancouver metro area, and for building homes in El Salvador. From The Columbian. Wind energy is driving...
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One of the winners in the new stimulus bill is small wind energy projects. The bill, signed into law today, expands a 30% tax credit for wind projects that produce 100 kilowatts or less of electricity. According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), a 10 kilowatt project costs about $40,000 to install, so...
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Seems like not everyone is crazy about the new crop of wind turbines that are growing like crazy in eastern Oregon. According to the East Oregonian, the city council of Milton-Freewater went on the record to voice its concerns that too many wind mills will ruin the town’s view of the Blue Mountains. The...
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