PacifiCorp says two wind farms totaling 127.5 megawatts have begun commercial operation in Wyoming, strengthening its claim to be one of the largest utility owners of wind generation in the western US. The High Plains wind farm generates 99MW from 66 turbines and McFadden Ridge is rated at 28.5MW from 19 turbines. Both facilities use General Electric 1.5MW turbines and are located near the town of McFadden in eastern Wyoming. The holding company operates electric utilities that serve California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. "Together with our existing fleet of resources, these new wind projects are an important part of our plan to provide the electricity our customers need at competitive costs," notes Mark Tallman, vice president of renewable resource acquisition at PacifiCorp. PacifiCorp has completed nine new wind projects during the past two years, seven of which are located in Wyoming, where it operates as Rocky Mountain Power. In total, company-owned renewable energy facilities include 12 operating wind projects in Oregon, Washington and Wyoming, and the Blundell geothermal plant in Utah; providing a total generating capability of 957 megawatts. Additionally, PacifiCorp, based in Portland, Oregon, has 611 megawatts of contracted wind-powered generation from developers. || Read more

Anyone who has lived in Wyoming knows about the constant wind. Studies have shown that Wyoming has a majority of the most productive onshore wind in the US, however less than 1% of the State's wind energy generation potential has been developed.

Transmission projects under development will open the door to this vast, untouched, renewable resource. New transmission lines will deliver wind energy generated in Wyoming to major load centers in the Western US — helping Wyoming benefit from its enormous wind energy potential. || Read more