Renewable energy resources are beneficial to both business and the environment. Electricity from the company's wind, geothermal, biomass and solar energy facilities is integrated into PacifiCorp's system, which also includes power generated from hydro facilities, coal and natural gas plants. With a diverse resource mix, the region enjoys a more reliable supply of energy.

WIND

Marengo (under construction)

Turbines: 78, 1.8 mw Vestas American Win Technology, Inc. turbines

Output: 140.4 mw

This project is currently under construction near Dayton, Wash., and is scheduled for completion in August 2007. PacifiCorp purchased it in October 2006 from a subsidiary of Renewable Energy Systems Americas, Inc., and it is being built by RES American Construction Inc. When completed, Marengo is expected to have the capability to serve the needs of approximately 37,000 homes.

Leaning Juniper 1

Turbines: 67, 1.5 mw General Electric turbines

Output: 100.5 mw

PacifiCorp purchased this project in July 2006 from PPM Energy. It is located about three miles southwest of Arlington, Ore., and began commercial operation in September 2006. It is expected to generate enough energy to serve more than 30,000 homes each month, on land that will continue to be used for wheat farming and grazing.

Wolverine Creek

Turbines: 43, 1.5 mw General Electric turbines
Output: 64.5 mw

PacifiCorp agreed to purchase the output of Wolverine Creek wind farm, a 64.5-megawatt (mw) generation facility located about 10 miles southeast of Idaho Falls, Idaho. The energy output of the project is expected to be enough to supply nearly 17,500 average homes. The 20-year power purchase agreement is between PacifiCorp and a special purpose entity, Wolverine Creek Energy LLC. Owned and operated by Invenergy, Wolverine Creek commenced operation in early 2006. 

Eurus Combine Hills

Turbines: 41, 1-mw Mitsubishi turbines
Output: 41 mw

The December 2003 startup of the Eurus Combine Hills 41-megawatt (mw) wind farm in Milton-Freewater, Ore., was the culmination of an innovative collaboration between an independent nonprofit (the Energy Trust of Oregon), a wind developer (Eurus Energy America) and PacifiCorp. The  Energy Trust of Oregon is an organization dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy development. The new wind farm is interconnected to the utility’s transmission system and delivers enough power to serve about 12,000 Pacific Power households. Without PacifiCorp’s commitment to purchasing the power for the next 20 years, the project wouldn’t have come to fruition.

Foote Creek Rim I

Turbines: Nearly 400, 600-kilowatt (kw) turbines
Output: 41.4 mw

Foote Creek Rim I is co-owned by PacifiCorp and Eugene Water and Electric Board. The electricity produced by PacifiCorp's portion (32.6 megawatts) of the facility's output is enough to power 9,200 homes.The land is also available for other uses, such as grazing livestock, because the facility only occupies about one percent of the approximately 2,156 acres it is housed upon. 

Rock River I

Turbines:  50, 1-mw turbines
Output:  50 mw

In 2001, PacifiCorp agreed to purchase all of Rock River I's output for the next 20 years. The facility produces enough clean energy to power nearly 27,000 average homes in the region. The electricity purchased by PacifiCorp is part of the mix that serves the utility’s regulated customers.

GEOTHERMAL

In a geothermal electric generating plant, the source of energy is ground water thousands of feet below the surface. Created by rain and snow runoff, the water is heated by nearby magma to a temperature of more than 500 degrees Fahrenheit. A well brings the high-pressure, heated water to the surface, where it “flashes” to steam, then is used to power a steam turbine and generator. These plants are particularly valuable since they generate power as often, and sometimes even more, than a plant fueled by natural gas or coal.

Blundell

Generating capacity: 26.1 mw
Fuel: Steam

More than 15 years ago, Phillips Petroleum and Utah Power teamed to build the Blundell Plant, the first geothermal electric plant outside of California. The hydro thermal reservoir at Blundell lies 3,000 feet below the Earth's surface and contains water at more than 500 degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure of 500 pounds per square inch. Blundell is a fully renewable, zero-discharge facility. No fossil fuels are used to generate electricity; rather it is renewed and generated by heat in the ground. There is also no pollution of the atmosphere because of the absence of combustion by-products.