Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. (RES Americas), a leader in the construction of wind and solar projects in North America, is pleased to announce it has been selected as the balance of plant (BOP) constructor for phase two of the Lower Snake River wind farm. Portland General Electric (PGE) announced this week that it has entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire the development rights to the wind project from Puget Sound Energy Inc. (PSE), and that RES America Construction Inc. will serve as general contractor.
Phase two of the Lower Snake River wind farm, which is located near Dayton, Wash., northeast of Walla Walla, is expected to employ up to 300 construction workers, and once operational, create about 18 full-time jobs. The 267MW project will utilize 116 wind turbines manufactured by Siemens Energy Inc., each with a nameplate generating capacity of 2.3 MW. When complete in 2015, the project will provide enough clean, renewable energy to power 84,000 homes.
“RES Americas enjoyed working with Puget Sound Energy to finalize development of phase two of the Lower Snake River wind farm, and we look forward to constructing it for Portland General Electric,” RES Chief Operating Officer Andrew Fowler said. “The acquisition of this project is a significant addition to PGE’s renewable energy portfolio, and will ensure that PGE’s customers receive even more power from clean, renewable resources.”
RES Americas was the original developer of the Lower Snake River wind farm, and in 2009 sold the development assets to PSE, at which time PSE assumed the role of owner and developer of the project. RES Americas also performed the BOP construction on the 343 MW Lower Snake River Wind Project – Phase I, which was completed in 2012. PSE owns and operates that project.
PGE’s acquisition of phase two of the project from PSE is the result of a request for proposals for renewable resources that PGE issued last fall. PGE found that of the 64 bids representing 39 distinct generating projects that were submitted in response, phase two of the Lower Snake River wind farm was the best-performing proposal.
Combined with PGE’s existing owned and contracted renewable power generating resources, PGE’s acquisition of phase two of the Lower Snake River wind farm will allow PGE to comply with state standards requiring the utility to supply 15 percent of the power it delivers to customers from qualifying renewable sources beginning in 2015.
For more information, please visit www.res-americas.com.
