December 13, 2004—Puget Sound Energy (the utility subsidiary of Puget Energy) just announced its second wind power project in Washington state, bringing the utility’s proposed ownership of wind energy to nearly 400 megawatts (MW). PSE recently signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Blue Sky Wind to acquire 100-percent ownership of the proposed Hopkins Ridge Wind Project located in Eastern Washington’s Columbia County. If all goes as planned, the project could begin providing PSE customers with 150 megawatts (MW) of wind power by sometime between late 2005 to mid-2006.
This project, along with PSE’s recently announced intention to purchase the proposed 230-MW Wild Horse Wind Power Project in Washington state’s Kittitas County, is part of PSE’s strategic plan to diversify its supply portfolio by adding secure, low-cost resources for its growing customer base. PSE’s goal is to supply at least five percent of its customers’ total electricity needs with renewable resources by 2013.
The proposed Hopkins Ridge Project is situated on 11,000 acres of remote, open wheat fields approximately 15 miles northeast of Dayton, Wash. As proposed, it would feature approximately 80 1.8-MW wind turbines providing up to 150 MW of capacity, enough energy to power 50,000 homes.
