PUD busy with wind; other issues

The Wahkiakum County PUD Board Commissioners met Tuesday with guest speaker Jim Oakley, Senior Member Relations Representative from Energy Northwest.

Oakley told the board that progression is being made on the Radar Ridge Wind project in Pacific County. The concern of birds flying into the turbines hasn’t been a large problem; however, a study has been ongoing about murrelet flying patterns. He said the birds usually tend to fly lower, around sea level. While birds flying into the turbines isn’t an anticipated event, Oakley said the situation would be continually monitored.

Although it isn’t a huge problem, raptors have been found dead around the Radar Ridge tower. Oakley said managers believe the birds get so focused on prey that they fly into the building.

“They don’t know that is the problem; that’s the only theory they have come up with,” he said.

“Wind is an interesting thing,” Oakley continued. “Those towers at wind farms are not just put up. You have to be sure one tower isn’t blocking the wind from another tower. It will take the energy right out of the wind.” Any obstruction will do the same thing.

In other business, Manager Dave Tramblie said he and Commissioner Larry Reese attended a meeting regarding Radar Ridge. He said ENW is requesting a non-binding letter of interest by the end of June as to the percentage of ownership Wahkiakum would be interested in.

The PUD will be working with a consultant to assist in the decision of finding whether or not a 5 percent purchase of Radar Ridge would be feasible to the utility. The consultant has said he would have a study completed prior to the contract signing deadline.

Tramblie said he felt the $10,000 paid to the consultant would be a fair amount to invest to find whether or not the purchase should be made.

Tramblie added that he has become aware of a group of smaller utilities that together equal about 20 percent of Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) load and who are banning together to consider options other than tiered rates, such as a contract roll over.

“Wahkiakum has been asked what our position is,” he said.

Basically, the group is giving Wahkiakum options to check on to see whether PUD staff believe an expanded shared rate plan or a revised shared rate plan is in the best interest of the PUD. The group will be meeting July 2. Tramblie said he would like to submit the position to them before then.

The next meeting of the PUD is July 1 at 8:30 a.m.