Wind
Wind energy is accumulated from natural gusts of wind that
propel the blades on a windmill turbine.
propel the blades on a windmill turbine.
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Wind Energy in Idaho
Wind energy is by far Idaho’s leading non-hydro renewable resource. Most of Idaho’s developed and proposed wind farms are located in the southern and eastern parts of the state, particularly across the Magic Valley and up into the Pocatello and Idaho Falls areas. Idaho has two large wind farms near Idaho Falls, and several smaller projects along the Snake River Plain.
Idaho Power is seeking PUC approval for the 80MW Rockland Wind project near American Falls. The wind farm, being developed by Ridgeline Energy of Seattle, would consist of 44 turbines and would be running by the end of 2011. Another Ridgeline wind farm, built with BP Energy and consisting of 83 turbines east of Idaho Falls, began operating in early November and is generating 124MW of clean energy for Southern California Edison. Construction is under way for a $500 million, 11-project wind complex by GE Energy Financial Services and Exergy Development Group that will deploy 122 turbines and generate about 180MW to be sold to Idaho Power. They will be located in the Hagerman area and in the eastern Magic Valley.
All of these wind farms are providing electricity to utilities, including Idaho Power, Rocky Mountain Power, and as far away as Southern California Edison. Key challenges still facing the wind industry in Idaho include high “integration” costs to tie wind farms into the existing grid, and disputes over the prices utilities pay for the energy.
It is estimated that Idaho has up to 3,000 megawatts of realistically developable wind resources, which is about the average electricity load of Idaho’s utilities. Idaho is ranked 13th nationwide in wind potential. However, wind’s variability poses some challenges in integrated large amounts into the regional grid. In the future, it’s likely that some of Idaho’s new wind projects will feed power to out-of-state utilities in the region that face increasing state requirements to incorporate more renewable energy into their systems.
Idaho Power is seeking PUC approval for the 80MW Rockland Wind project near American Falls. The wind farm, being developed by Ridgeline Energy of Seattle, would consist of 44 turbines and would be running by the end of 2011. Another Ridgeline wind farm, built with BP Energy and consisting of 83 turbines east of Idaho Falls, began operating in early November and is generating 124MW of clean energy for Southern California Edison. Construction is under way for a $500 million, 11-project wind complex by GE Energy Financial Services and Exergy Development Group that will deploy 122 turbines and generate about 180MW to be sold to Idaho Power. They will be located in the Hagerman area and in the eastern Magic Valley.
All of these wind farms are providing electricity to utilities, including Idaho Power, Rocky Mountain Power, and as far away as Southern California Edison. Key challenges still facing the wind industry in Idaho include high “integration” costs to tie wind farms into the existing grid, and disputes over the prices utilities pay for the energy.
It is estimated that Idaho has up to 3,000 megawatts of realistically developable wind resources, which is about the average electricity load of Idaho’s utilities. Idaho is ranked 13th nationwide in wind potential. However, wind’s variability poses some challenges in integrated large amounts into the regional grid. In the future, it’s likely that some of Idaho’s new wind projects will feed power to out-of-state utilities in the region that face increasing state requirements to incorporate more renewable energy into their systems.
Wind Potential in Idaho
Wind Projects in Idaho
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Operating, Under Construction, Approved,
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