Worlds largest wind farm planned in Oregon

Written by Ariel Schwartz

The Portland Business Journal reports that Oregon has just been given the go-ahead by The Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council to build a 909 MW wind farm in the north-central part of the state. That’s enough energy to power 200,000 homes.

The Shepherd’s Flat Wind Farm will contain 303 wind turbines and will double the state’s wind-generating capacity. It will boost the local economy by creating 250 to 300 new jobs, and lease payments to landowners will supplement farm incomes.

However, the farm does face one challenge: Northwest power agencies claim to only be able to handle 1500 more megawatts of wind power on the grid. With new renewable energy projects popping up all over the place, it might be time to start thinking about some serious solutions to this problem.

If all goes according to plan, the Oregonian wind farm—scheduled to be in operation by 2010— will ultimately be overtaken in capacity by T. Boone Pickens’ 4000 MW Texas wind farm, which should be completed by 2014.

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Rebecca

Country Meadow Ltd.

Eco-Friendly Spa Products

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Gentle on the earth…

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Rockport, Misouri is the first 100% wind powered city (Green Tech Gazette)

Well, not long after T. Boone Pickens announced his plan to put up wind turbines from the Texas panhandle all the way to the Canadian border, did Rockport, Missouri announce that it is now the first 100-percent wind powered city in America.

Of course, it helps that Rockport only has 1,300 residents and only four wind turbines were needed to power the entire city. But, that’s beside the point. The point is that they were the first and they have thrown down the gauntlet for other cities to follow.

The Loess Hills Wind Farm was built by Wind Capital Group and the John Deere Corporation. The turbines are currently producing twice as much electricity as needed by the city and they will be selling the excess energy back to the Missouri Joint Municipal Utilities.

The four Suzlon 1.25-megawatt wind turbines were built and installed by 500 workers from 20 different states. If T. Boone gets his way (and when hasn’t he) these green collar jobs for the wind turbine industry won’t be going away anytime soon.

As surely as the wind blows and U. S. energy consumption increases, so will the jobs for green collar workers nationwide. Rockport, Missouri is an inspiring starting place. Now, which town wants to be second?

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Rebecca

Country Meadow Ltd.

Eco-Friendly Spa Products

Gentle on your body…

Gentle on the earth…

www.countrymeadowltd.com