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In January 2003, Sagebrush Power Partners, LLC, submitted an application for site certification to EFSEC for its Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project. This Project is an alternative energy facility as defined in RCW 80.50.020(17). Sagebrush chose to receive site certification from EFSEC for the Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project pursuant to RCW 80.50.060(2). Application cover letter (PDF - 1 page) As revised in late 2005, early 2006, Sagebrush Power proposed the construction of up to 65 turbines approximately 12 miles northwest of Ellensburg (location map). On March 27, 2007 EFSEC issued Order No. 826 Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order Recommending Approval of Site Certification Agreement. Executive Summary (19 kb) Order No. 826 (577kb) By letter dated June 22, 2007 Governor Gregoire requested EFSEC reconsider the recommended setback for some of the turbines from "non-participating landowners' residences. On August 8, 2007 EFSEC approved Order No. 831 which recommended the Governor approve the Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project with changes to the proposed Site Certification Agreement. These changes would require consideration of visual impacts as the highest priority during the final siting (micro-siting) of the turbines located within 2,500 feet of non-participating residences. Order No. 831, with a revised proposed Site Certification Agreement was delivered to the Governor on August 15, 2007. The Governor approved the Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project on September 18, 2007. Governor Gregoire's approval letter to the EFSEC Chair. In November 2008 the Washington Supreme Court upheld the Governor's approval.
General Description of the Project: The Project will consist of a maximum of sixty-five (65), 3-bladed wind turbines on tubular steel towers, not exceeding a maximum height (hub height plus blade tip height) of 410 feet. The nameplate capacity will be between 98 and 195 megawatts depending on the size of turbine used (1.5 or 3.0 megawatt). The Project would interconnect directly with either Puget Sound Energy’s 230kV Rocky Reach-White River transmission line or Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) Grand Coulee-Olympia or Columbia-Covington 287 kV lines, all of which pass directly over the Project site. Proposed Site: The Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project turbines are proposed to be located on the ridges located on either side of Highway 97, roughly halfway between Ellensburg and Cle Elum. EFSEC's Review Timeline
June 2007 Governor remands decision back to EFSEC May 2007 EFSEC recommendation delivered to Governor September 2006 Hearings held in Kittitas County
August 2004: Hearings postponed December 2003
Draft EIS issued
for public comment May 2003
Land Use Hearing and 5/7/03
Order on Land Use Consistency
April 2003 SEPA
Scoping Summary issued (26 pages PDF) March 2003 Public Informational and Scoping Meeting - Ellensburg, WA. January 2003 Application for Site Certification submitted to EFSEC Public Reference: Copies of the Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project Application for Site Certification and the Draft EIS will be available for Public Reference at the following locations. Cle Elum: Carpenter Memorial (Cle Elum) Library Hours:
Ellensburg: Ellensburg Public Library 509-962-7250 Olympia:
How to Obtain a Copy: The Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project Application for Site Certification is available to interested persons upon request in CD-ROM format only. The Draft EIS is available in both hard copy and CD-ROM formats. To obtain a copy contact:
For information or questions concerning this Application for Site Certification please contact:
Important Note: Public comments submitted to the Council via the internet or in writing become public records under the Washington State Public Records Act (RCW 42.17). Information included in the comment such as the commentor's e-mail and mailing address becomes a public record once it is provided to EFSEC and may be subject to public inspection and copying if not protected by federal or state law. For additional information please see our Privacy Notice. To be added to the Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project mailing list, please:
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