April
2, 2002
Oregon Governor, Washington Lt. Gov. join FPL Energy, PPM to dedicate
largest wind farm in the West
Wallula Junction, WA. - Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and
Washington Lt. Governor Brad Owen are to meet at the Oregon-Washington
border today to dedicate the largest wind farm in the west, a facility
that straddles both states.
Developed, owned and operated by FPL Energy, the 263-megawatt Stateline
Energy Center provides clean, renewable energy to PacificCorp Power
Marketing (PPM), for its customers throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Gov. Kitzhaber and Lt. Gov. Owen joined FPL Energy President Ron
Green, PPM CEO Terry Hudgens, Bonneville Power Administrator Steve
Wright, Seattle City Councilmember Heidi Wills and more than 100
local and regional guests in a celebration of the Pacific Northwest's
largest wind energy facility.
"The Stateline Wind Project is exciting, not only because
we need the 263-megawatts of electricity - but also because it highlights
the Northwest as a development center for clean energy. If we are
to maintain our free markets and continue our economic growth, we
must bring clean energy on line worldwide. The Stateline Wind Project
exemplifies our commitment to achieving a sustainable world, and
serves as an inspiration to the private and public sectors alike,"
said Gov. Kitzhaber.
"It's not often that we have such an outstanding example of
government, private industry, and individual grass roots groups
working together to accomplish a goad that everyone will benefit
from," said Washington State Lt. Governor Owen.
The Stateline Energy Center was fully operational in December 2001,
just nine months after construction of the facility began. But as
with most large wind energy facilities, when sections of the facility
were completed, electricity began flowing to PPM customers. The
first power from Stateline reached consumers in July. The facility
has the capacity to provide enough electricity to power about 60,000
homes and businesses.
"As the largest producer of wind energy in the nation, we
are delighted that one of our bigger wind facilities is located
in eastern Washington and Oregon to provide clean renewable energy
to the region. We're grateful for the support we have received in
the area for our company and for the Stateline Energy Center,"
said FPL Energy President Green.
"We've enjoyed great success marketing the output of Stateline
to wholesale customers," said PPM CEO Hudgens. "We've
overcome the challenges of delivering reliable, affordable wind
power and created tailored renewable energy products. We believe
renewable power holds great potential for meeting the future energy
needs of the West," he added.
The Stateline Energy Center provides electricity for PPM customers
including Bonneville Power Administration, and Seattle City Light,
the Eugene Water and Electric Board and Avista Utilities.
"We are delighted to be the purchaser of about one-third of
the Stateline project's capacity. We're looking forward to learning
more about wind generated power and how best to blend it with our
Northwest hydropower resources," said Steve Wright, administrator,
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA).
"Seattle supported this project for all the right future reasons
- protecting our climate, passing on a better world to our children,
less pollution from energy production. But today's reasons are equally
compelling - excellent technology, reasonable cost, diversifying
our energy supply. This is a tremendous opportunity for Seattle
and our entire region," said Seattle Councilwoman Wills.
FPL Energy is the nation's leader in wind energy generation, with
14 wind farms in Oregon, Washington, Iowa, Texas, Minnesota, Wisconsin
and Kansas. This wind portfolio represents a net ownership of more
than 1,400 megawatts. The company expects to build an additional
1,000 to 2,000 megawatts of wind energy projects by 2003. FPL Energy
is a leading independent producer of clean energy from natural gas,
wind, solar and hydroelectric. The company's portfolio includes
73 facilities in operation, under construction or in advanced stages
of development in 17 states. New projects will bring total capacity
to 10,000 megawatts by the end of 2003.
PPM is a non-utility power marketing subsidiary of ScottishPower
and market leader in clean and green merchant energy. In addition
to Stateline, PPM also markets the output of the Klamath Cogeneration
Plant, a 484-megawatt natural gas-fired, advanced combined-cycle
cogeneration facility in Klamath Falls, Ore. PacifiCorp, a regulated
electric utility, a separate entity, is also a subsidiary of ScottishPower.
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