RANDOLPH, Utah. June
5, 2019. Long Hollow Wind Farms will
build a wind farm west of Woodruff, Utah and south of Highway 89.
Aron
Branam, representing EDP Renewables, said that the company, founded in 2000,
has developed wind farms throughout the country. They have 500 employees and are producing approximately
6,000 mg watts in the USA and Canada. The Wind Farm will interconnect with Pacific Corps
creating 8 to 10 megawatts of electrical power. They will tie into the high voltage power
lines. The company has been working on
this site for two years.
They have purchased two towers which have been
installed. The target date for full
installation will be 2021. There will be 18 to 23 wind turbines on
ridge tops. EDP has done environmental
studies on the site since 2018 and has applied for a county conditional use
permit. Wildlife studies have been done
for the last twelve months including one for endangered species. Future studies will include activity
monitoring, wild life and big game species observation. The project needs a conditional use permit
and want to start the process.
He outlined the economic benefits. There will be approximately 150 to 200
temporary construction jobs. Three to
five full time jobs at $50,000 each plus service jobs. Branam said that there will be tax benefits of
$10 million over 30 years. Commissioner
Bill Cox cautioned that in his experience large tax revenues were promised, but
that the companies then appealed to the State Tax Commission for abatement and
that in reality it would be a very small amount. Branam said that they would do what they had
done in other counties so that they would be on a level playing field.
Rich County has some of the best wind resources in
Utah. There is a tax benefit to
companies building wind farms which is lost in 2022, so they need to be
finished by then or lose their tax advantage.
Solar will still have their production tax credit.
They have met with BLM for right of way access but asked the county to work with BLM because if the county were to ask the BLM the cost to
the company would be less expensive.
Commissioner Norm Weston asked how they plan
on getting to wind towers in winter. The
company will plow the upgraded roads they are building. Cox said that wind blowing snow on road will
impede road and they will have to use SnowCats to get in.
The wildlife habitat will be improved through reseeding
projects. The upgraded road will make it better for the ranchers on the road
and the general public. The company
will build and maintain the road.
No comments:
Post a Comment