Energy Northwest
Nine Canyon Wind Farm
Update
Nine Canyon Wind Project is moving into Phase III of the project which will add 14 turbines, increasing the project capacity by 32 megawatts for a total project capacity of 96 MW. Construction is scheduled to start in April 2007, with turbine erection to begin in December 2007. The new turbines are anticipated to generate clean, renewable power for the region by Spring 2008.
Background
Energy Northwest has a membership of 13 public utilities and 3 city municipal utilities. Their Board of Directors is made up of 16 representatives, 1 for each of their members. The Nine Canyon Wind Project was developed and is owned and operated by Energy Northwest to provide a renewable energy resource to participating public utilities. It is capable of generating up to 48 megawatts, and is the largest publicly owned wind project in the country. It provides, on average, enough electric power to supply over 10,000 households. Nine Canyon consists of 37 turbines rated at 1.3 megawatts each. The Nine Canyon site is approximately 8 miles southeastof Kennewick. In January of 2001 the Okanogan County PUD approved Energy Northwest's undertaking of the Nine Canyon Wind farm.
Construction of the Nine Canyon project was completed and commercial operation underway in late September, 2002. In April 2003, the Energy Northwest Board of Directors approved construction of Phase II, based on power purchase contracts signed by 5 of the 8 purchasing utilities involved in Nine Canyon. This expansion added 12 turbines and 15.6 megawatts of capacity to the Nine Canyon Wind Project. The first of the new turbines began producing power by the end of September, 2003. Phase II has been completed, giving Nine Canyon Wind Project a total of 49 turbines with a total generating capacity of 63.7 megawatts. Okanogan PUD is one of the largest participants in this project, with a 24% share of energy output.