Subject: Horse Heaven Wind Project
[Federal Register: October 15, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 199)]
[Notices]
[Page 52398-52399]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15oc01-35]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Bonneville Power Administration
Horse Heaven Wind Project
AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy
(DOE).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
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SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA's intention to prepare an EIS on the
proposed Horse Heaven Wind Project (Project), located southwest of the
town of Kennewick in Benton County, Washington. Washington Winds
Incorporated (Washington Winds) proposes to construct and operate the
wind generation facility, which would have a generating capacity up to
225 megawatts (MW). BPA proposes to purchase about 150 MW (up to 50
average megawatts) from the Project and to provide transmission
services from an existing BPA transmission line. Washington Winds would
construct a transmission line approximately 13 miles long to connect
the Project to an existing BPA transmission line. The EIS will identify
and analyze the potential environmental impacts to various resources
from the temporary construction activities and the ongoing operation of
the wind generation site and proposed transmission line. Benton County
will be a ``cooperating agency,'' as contemplated by the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Washington State Environmental
Policy Act (SEPA).
DATES: An EIS scoping meeting will be held at the location below on
October 29, 2001. Written comments are due to the address below no
later than November 14, 2001.
ADDRESSES: BPA invites comments and suggestions on the scope of the
EIS. Send comment letters and requests to be placed on the Project
mailing list to: Communications, Bonneville Power Administration--KC-7,
Attn: Horse Heaven Wind Project, P.O. Box 12999, Portland, Oregon,
97212. Comments may also be faxed to 503-230-3285 or email to
comment@bpa.gov. Please reference the ``Horse Heaven Wind Project'' in
all communications.
An EIS scoping meeting will be held at the Benton County Public
Utility District (PUD) Building, 2721 West 10th Avenue in Kennewick,
Washington, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on October 29, 2001. At this informal
meeting, information about the Project will be available from BPA
environmental and engineering staff, the Project developer, and the
consultant who is currently conducting bird studies on the Project
site. Printed information on the Project will be available, including
maps of the Project area and the location of Project elements. BPA
staff will accept oral and written comments on the proposed scope of
the EIS and explain how and when comments can be submitted after the
meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly St. Hilaire, the
Environmental Project Manager, at Bonneville Power Administration--KEC-
4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621, or fax 503-230-5699,
telephone 503-230-5361, or email krsthilaire@bpa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This Project would help to alleviate the current and/or future
shortage of electrical power in the Northwest. In addition, there is
increased demand on the energy industry to diversify portfolios and
produce energy from renewable resources. The Northwest Power Planning
Council's Fourth Conservation and Electric Power Plan recommends that
Northwest utilities offer green power purchase opportunities as a way
to help the region integrate renewable resources into the power system.
BPA is committed to power conservation and increasing its supply of
renewable resources to help meet demand.
Purpose and Need of Project
BPA needs to acquire additional power generation resources, to
acquire power from renewable resources, and to acquire wind generation
resources. These needs arise from BPA's statutory obligations and
planning directives.
The purpose of the proposed action is to:
Protect BPA and its utility customers against risks
associated with power shortages by diversifying BPA's energy supplies;
Fulfill BPA's obligations under the Northwest Electric
Power Planning and Conservation Act to acquire additional power
generation resources, develop renewable energy resources, and encourage
the development of renewable energy resources;
Meet the growing customer demand for energy from renewable
resources;
Ensure consistency with the resource acquisition strategy
of BPA's Business Plan EIS (DOE/EIS 0183, June 1995) and Resource
Programs EIS (DOE/EIS-0162, February 1993);
Further the objectives of the President's National Energy
Policy (May 2001) to diversify energy sources by making greater use of
non-hydro
[[Page 52399]]
renewable sources such as wind power; and
Meet the objective in the January 2000 Strategic Plan of
BPA's Power Business Line to acquire at least 150 average megawatts of
new renewable resources to meet customer demand by the end of fiscal
year 2006.
Proposed Action
BPA proposes to execute one or more power purchase and transmission
services agreements to acquire about 150 MW (up to 50 average MW) of
electrical output from the proposed Horse Heaven Wind Project. The
Project would be constructed and operated by Washington Winds. It would
consist of the wind generation site and the transmission line that
would connect the Project to an existing BPA transmission line.
Construction on the Project would begin in 2002 and the Project would
operate year-round for at least 20 years.
The privately owned wind generation site where wind turbines, a
substation, and other Project elements would be located is in the Horse
Heaven Hills. The wind generation site is located within portions of
the following Sections within Township 7 North, Range 28 East,
Willamette Meridian: Sections 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, and 18.
Land uses within and adjacent to the proposed wind generation site
consist primarily of dryland wheat farming, with scattered rural
residences. Farming activities could continue adjacent to Project
elements during operation of the wind generation facility.
Within the wind generation portion of the Project, approximately
250 wind turbines would be arranged in rows called ``strings,'' with
approximately 250 to 450 feet between turbines in each string,
depending upon the turbine size and topographical features. Washington
Winds is considering using turbines ranging from 900-kilowatt (kW) to
2,000-kW output each. The proposed turbines would be upwind, dual-speed
turbines (i.e., the rotor always faces upwind and turns at one of two
constant speeds), mounted on tubular steel towers installed on a
reinforced concrete foundation. These turbines would operate during
wind speeds of approximately 9 to 56 miles per hour (mph). At speeds
greater than approximately 56 mph, the wind turbines automatically
cease operating and remain stationary until the wind speeds become
slower. The height of the turbines would range from approximately 246
feet to 380 feet, depending upon the type of turbine chosen for the
site. Foundations would be either caisson or pad style, ranging from
approximately 15 to 50 feet in width and extending 15 to 50 feet
underground, depending upon turbine size and ground conditions.
Other Project elements within the wind generation site include
small pad-mounted transformers located at the base of each wind turbine
tower, access roads, several meteorological towers, a substation, and
an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) facility. Power from the turbines
would be collected by an underground and overhead cable system that
would run between turbines and turbine strings. This system would then
feed into a proposed substation, located on the Project site. The
fenced substation and O&M facility would each occupy approximately four
acres.
A transmission line would lead from the wind generation site to an
existing BPA transmission line located to the south, near the town of
Plymouth, Washington. The proposed 13-mile long transmission line would
be either a 230/287-kilovolt (kV) or 345-kV line, depending on which
existing BPA transmission line BPA determines can accept the output of
the Project.
The location of the proposed transmission line is currently under
consideration. The proposed transmission line would run along or near
Plymouth Road, a county road, for most of its length and would likely
cross Plymouth Road several times to avoid homes, agricultural
facilities, and other transmission lines. Just north of the town of
Plymouth, the proposed line may veer to the west of Plymouth Road for
several miles, crossing agricultural lands, before connecting to the
BPA transmission line. A small tap (fenced area) would be built within
the existing BPA right-of-way to connect the proposed transmission line
to the existing BPA transmission line. The proposed line would be
located within Townships 5, 6, and 7 North, on or near the boundary
between Range 27 East and Range 28 East (located within various
sections depending on the location of the line).
Process to Date
Washington Winds has applied for a conditional use permit from
Benton County. Field surveys to identify bird species that utilize or
fly over the site were initiated by Washington Winds in April of 2001
and are ongoing. Scoping will help identify any additional studies that
should be conducted.
Proposed Alternatives for Consideration
The alternatives include the proposed action and a no-action
alternative. The proposed action alternative is to execute a power
purchase agreement for approximately 150 MW (up to 50 average MW) of
power from the Project and transmit up to the entire 225 MW output from
the project to customers over existing BPA power lines, thereby
enabling construction of the Project. The no-action alternative is for
BPA to not purchase and transmit any power output from the Project
site, thereby not enabling construction of the Project.
Public Participation and Identification of Environmental Issues
The environmental analyses for recent wind power projects in the
region have addressed potential environmental issues, including visual
issues, noise levels, impacts to cultural resources, socio-economic
ramifications, effects on rare plant and animal species, and impacts to
wildlife, including migratory birds. BPA has established a 30-day
scoping period to enable affected tribes, landowners, concerned
citizens, special interest groups, local governments, State and Federal
agencies, and other interested parties to comment on the scope of the
EIS. Comments will assist BPA in identifying the environmental issues
that should be analyzed and addressed. After the public scoping
meeting, the following activities are planned in order to satisfy the
requirements of NEPA:
A Draft EIS will be developed and circulated for public
review and comment.
BPA will hold at least one public comment meeting about
the Draft EIS.
Comments on the Draft EIS will be considered and responded
to by BPA in the Final EIS.
The Final EIS is scheduled for publication in 2002.
BPA's subsequent decision will be documented in a Record
of Decision.
Issued in Portland, Oregon, on October 5, 2001.
Stephen J. Wright,
Acting Administratr and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-25832 Filed 10-12-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-U