Lower Snake River Wind Project
Another PSE wind project to benefit southeast Washington
The Lower Snake River Wind Project is Puget Sound Energy’s newest wind energy facility in Washington’s Columbia and Garfield counties. The project builds on the success of PSE’s Hopkins Ridge Wind Facility, located in Columbia County, and the contribution it makes to the local economy and renewable energy. Initial development was conducted under a partnership between PSE and RES Americas, Inc., with PSE becoming the project’s sole owner in August 2009. RES Americas will remain a project team member, serving as construction contractor.
The project is designed to be built in phases. PSE began construction on Phase I in Garfield County in spring of 2010. The 343-megawatt (MW) Phase I project near Pomeroy, Wash. will significantly increase PSE’s total wind-power generating capacity, with 149 wind turbines, rated at 2.3 MW each. Phase I is expected to provide clean power for more than 100,000 homes and to be operational in 2012.
PSE is optimizing the development of additional phases of the Lower Snake River Wind Project, including those in Columbia County, where the utility currently owns and operates the 87-turbine, 157-MW Hopkins Ridge Wind Facility near the city of Dayton.