Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility and Renewable Energy Center
Our Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility and Renewable Energy Center is 16 miles east of Ellensburg in Central Washington. Map it
Wild Horse's wind turbines have the capacity to generate up to 273 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
Wild Horse's solar-power installation, the Northwest's largest, can generate up to 500 kilowatts of electricity. Puget Sound Energy’s Renewable Energy Center offers a first-hand look at how these elements are turned into electricity.
Read more facts about the facility.
Tours
The wind and sun of Kittitas County are a tremendous natural resource for producing clean, renewable energy.
Check out the educational displays at the Renewable Energy Center created by PSE and Central Washington University. As you take a tour of discovery, you will learn more about wind and solar technology – as well as the area's unique natural history.
Get up-close views of the wind turbines and solar arrays from a 3,500-foot ridge set against the backdrop of the Cascade mountain range. From this vantage point you can see the entire Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility, Mount Rainier, Mount Adams and Mount Hood. Looking east view the Columbia River Basin.
The center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., daily from April through November, weather permitting. It features a conference facility with a meeting room accommodating 48 people, and a kitchen and catering facilities.
Weather permitting, guided tours depart daily from the Renewable Energy Center at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.; no reservation is needed for these tours. To schedule a separate, group tour of Wild Horse, please call 509-964-7815. All guided tours are free. Please wear closed-toed shoes.
Renewable Energy Center brochure
Recreation
Lands within the Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility are open to hunting, hiking, bird watching, horseback riding and other recreational activities by written permission only. Gates along the Beacon Ridge Road are open April 1 to Nov. 30, from two hours before sunrise to two hours after sunset.
To get permission to walk the grounds, complete the online application form then pick up your permit at the Renewable Energy Center.
FAQs
Can I access the lands owned by PSE and Washington state at the Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility for hunting and/or recreation?
Yes, but only with written permission. Please review the Access Rules.
How do I get written permission to access the energy-facility property for hunting and/or recreation?
First complete the application form online or in person at the Renewable Energy Center. If completed online, you will receive a confirmation e-mail instructing you to pick up your permit at the Renewable Energy Center before accessing the land. Required permits include a signed Access Permission Agreement, and a vehicle-use permit issued at the Renewable Energy Center. The permit must be visible from outside your vehicle at all times while parking in designated areas along the Beacon Ridge Road as shown on the area map.
Everyone in your group must have signed agreements and a vehicle-use permit, with the exception of minors under 18. Minors under 18 years are required to have a guardian's signature to access the property. Minors between the ages of 12 and 18 who are hunting must have their own Access Permission Agreement form and have completed a hunting-safety course.
What areas are open to hunting and/or recreation?
There is no access of any kind within 300 feet of wind turbines, solar panels, buildings or substation. The area map provided with your permit will help you locate your position. Signs are posted, but the map is your best guide in determining your location. The area lies mostly on private land and it is a privilege to access these lands for hunting, bird watching or other purposes. There are special rules in place to ensure the safety of hunters, local residents, visitors, and wind-facility workers. It is your responsibility to make yourself aware and abide by them.
Why do I need to stop at the Renewable Energy Center after I've completed the online application?
At the Renewable Energy Center, you will be asked to complete the application process by signing the Access Permission Agreement form. State game officials and local law enforcement also require that hunters show picture identification if over 18 years old. When all the paperwork is complete, a vehicle-use permit will be issued for parking in designated areas along the Beacon Ridge Road. Each hunter will receive a copy of the Access Permission Agreement to keep with him at all times while on the property.
What are the rules for hunting/recreation within the energy-facility area?
The rules that apply for hunting/recreation within the boundary of the energy facility are spelled out in the Access Permission Agreement form that you are required to carry with you at all times. Violation of any of the rules will result in loss of all access privileges and you could incur trespassing violations.
To help ensure continued access to these lands, please report any violations of rules or laws to the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office 509-925-8534. In an emergency, dial 911.
- No hunting or recreation from Dec. 1 to March 31 or during other posted closure periods.
- No access of any kind within 300 feet of the wind turbines, solar panels, buildings or substation.
- No pointing or shooting of any weapon at any target other than legal game. Don't shoot at wind turbines, solar facilities, overhead power lines, splice boxes, J-boxes, maintenance vehicles, signs, maintenance facilities/buildings or the substation.
- No shooting from vehicles, across roads or from any maintained portion of energy-facility access roads.
- Vehicle traffic is permitted only on Beacon Ridge Road. Driving on other roads is not permitted.
- Operation of off-road or all-terrain vehicles is not allowed anywhere on energy-facility property.
- Parking is only allowed along the Beacon Ridge Road in designated turnaround/parking areas, as shown on the area map. Overnight parking is not allowed.
- Do not block access to gates or entrances.
- No camping or fires are allowed on energy-facility property.
- All hunters must abide by Washington State Game Rules and Regulations.
- Access may be restricted at any time due to severe weather or any other conditions, or operational issues that may affect public safety.
- Vehicle-use permits must be clearly displayed and visible from outside of the vehicle while parking in designated areas along Beacon Ridge Road.
- Your Access Permission Agreement must be carried on you at all times while you are in the energy-facility area for hunting or recreation.