The wind farm, called Shepherds Flat, has received majority of necessary government permits to operate and is ready to be built. GE Energy Financial Services is investing in the project.
Stretching across 30 square miles of Gilliam and Morrow Counties in north-central Oregon, near the town of Arlington, the 845MW Shepherds Flat project marks the US debut and the largest single order of GE’s 2.5xl wind turbines, GE said. A total of 338 turbines will be installed in 2011 and 2012.
Steve Bolze, president and CEO of GE Power & Water, said: “The Caithness project highlights our ability to deliver integrated solutions in the clean energy space and it supports our overarching focus to provide first in class technology to our customers. The 2.5MW wind turbine is the latest evolution of GE’s wind turbine technology and provides customers with greater efficiency, reliability and grid connection capabilities. The 2.5MW builds upon the success of GE’s 1.5MW wind turbine, the world’s most widely deployed wind turbine with more than 12,000 installed.”
Caithness Energy estimates that the $2 billion project will inject $16m of direct economic benefits into Oregon annually, and will employ 400 workers during construction and 35 during operation. Construction will be on a grand scale not only because of the large number of turbines, but because 85 miles of road and 90 miles of power connection to the grid will be built. Construction will begin in 2010 and will be completed in 2012.
Alex Urquhart, president and CEO of GE Energy Financial Services, said: “This is a smart investment in a well structured, contracted power project with an experienced developer using the nation’s best technology.”
In addition to supplying the wind turbines, GE will provide ten years of operational and maintenance services to the project.
