News | Energy Efficiency

http://www.newenergyworldnetwork.com/renewable-energy-news/by-technology/wind/pge-negotiates-purchase-of-res-wind-farm-development-rights.html

US power utility Portland General Electric (PGE) has entered into a preliminary agreement with Renewable Energy Systems Americas (RES Americas) to purchase the development rights for the Rock Creek Wind Farm in Gilliam County, Oregon.

The agreement endows PGE with the exclusive rights to purchase the project until the end of 2010.
‘We’re going to need significant new renewable generating resources in coming years as we work to meet Oregon’s renewable energy standards,’ said Jim Lobdell, vice president of power operations and resource strategy at PGE.
‘Good renewable sites are highly sought after, so we are pleased to have reached preliminary agreement on certain terms with RES Americas and look forward to working with them in the coming months to see if we can arrive at a final agreement that serves our customers’ best interests.’
RES Americas said it is pursuing state permits for the proposed facility, which would occupy leased sites south of Arlington and north of Condon in eastern Oregon and have a nameplate energy production capacity of up to 550MW.
At present, construction on the project is likely to begin in 2014 or 2015 but the company anticipates that it could start as early as 2013.
The facility will encompass up to 68,000 acres, leaving a majority of the land available for agriculture purposes.
PGE has filed a request with the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) for a waiver of the commission’s competitive bidding guidelines regarding the project because it conflicts with the limited period it has available to buy the wind farm.
Specific terms of the preliminary agreement with RES Americas have been filed with OPUC, but are expected to remain confidential until the parties sign a definitive agreement and satisfy related conditions.