SDS Lumber Co. (SDS), that plans to build 70 megawatt (MW) Saddleback wind project on a backcountry ridge near Underwood, has asked the state to explore the expansion of its proposed project north onto 2,560 acres of state trust land. Under the proposed expansion, SDS would pay to build roads, collectors and other infrastructure necessary to provide access to the remote site and feed power generated by the wind turbines into the electrical grid.
Originally the company wanted to install 42 wind turbines along a roughly north-south alignment on its land in eastern Skamania county.
In the last spring, the company approached the Washington Department of Natural Resources for leasing the state trust land to the north so it could build a larger and more profitable project.
SDS Lumber President Jason Spadaro said it just makes sense to expand north if the wind generation potential is there.
The project that we have now is on the small end of wind projects, Spadaro said. Because of that, I don’t have a lot of flexibility. I need to maintain every potential turbine in order to keep the size of the project where it works. The more megawatts you put through, the more viable the project is.
We would extend the road system we are already going to build, Spadaro said. There is a tremendous amount of synergy between the two properties.
The DNR land, which the company wants to lease is in western Klickitat county. As per the DNR officials, they would enter into a lease arrangement only if it yields revenue for the common school fund.
Otherwise we wouldn’t do it, said DNR regional manager Bill Boyum. It has to be a good investment on the part of the state.
Boyum said that if the state does eventually agree to lease the land for wind turbines, that phase of the project would be subject to a full environmental review by Klickitat county.
The state is forfeiting its right and its authority to enforce state regulations by punting environmental review to Klickitat County, said Michael Lang, conservation director at Friends of the Columbia Gorge. The organization has taken no official position on the Saddleback project, but is appealing Skamania County’s energy facility zoning ordinance.
One problem is that the state trust land lies in an area of scattered old growth and second growth forest used by the threatened northern spotted owl. The DNR is required to manage the area as a spotted owl emphasis area under its federally approved habitat conservation plan.
The DNR would require the company to consult with federal and state wildlife officials before installing wind-monitoring towers to determine whether they could harm birds or wildlife. It would require a sign-off from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that the project does not have a negative impact on owls or other imperiled species.
Spadaro said it remains to be seen whether the state trust land will prove to be a viable source of wind power. We may start reviewing this and find out that there are wildlife issues or other issues that make it impossible to go ahead.
However, if everything goes smoothly, as many as 25 or 30 giant wind turbines could be built on DNR land, Spadaro said.
A federal initiative requires electric utilities to get 15% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020.
President Obama has spoken about his intent to increase renewable energy, Spadaro said. There are now discussions about a national renewable energy standard as well. The demand is there. So is the ability to finance and develop the project. There are bank issues that make it more of a challenge, but that is not a long-term issue.