PORTLAND, Ore. — Pacific Power today announced a new wind project near its recently completed Marengo facility in the hills near Dayton, Wash. When Marengo II begins commercial operation in June 2008, it will add 39 turbines, generating 70.2 megawatts of electricity.

            Wind resources are part of the diverse resource mix used to supply electricity to customers of Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power, both part of Portland-based PacifiCorp.

            With completion of the 140.4-megawatt Marengo I project in August, the company now owns and operates more wind generation than any other electric utility in the Pacific Northwest. Marengo II will solidify this leadership position, bringing total capability from the Columbia County, Washington, wind projects to 210.6 megawatts.

           “We’re pleased that Pacific Power is investing in new, clean energy sources in Washington,” said Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire. “Resources like Marengo I and Marengo II can benefit our economy and our environment and highlight the role renewable energy can play in meeting the future needs of our region.”

            Marengo I is the second wind project completed by PacifiCorp in less than a year. In September 2006, the company brought the 100.5-megawatt Leaning Juniper 1 wind project near Arlington, Ore., into commercial operation. Besides Marengo II, PacifiCorp also recently announced plans to build two new wind projects in Wyoming.

            Construction on the Marengo II project will begin this month. Like Marengo I, it was developed by RES America Developments Inc., a subsidiary of RES Americas Inc., and will be constructed under contract by RES America Construction Inc. (also a subsidiary of RES Americas Inc.). The 39 wind turbines, each capable of producing 1.8 megawatts, will be supplied by Vestas Americas. Vestas also will provide service and maintenance for the turbines for four years.

            “Constructing another project near our existing Marengo facility allows us to cost-effectively provide even more of the clean, renewable energy our customers are asking for and to meet the new renewable portfolio standards established in Washington and Oregon,” said Pat Reiten, president of Pacific Power. “The future of wind power in the region is very strong, and we are proud to be a leader in its development. We are thrilled that Dayton and the surrounding communities have been so supportive of our plans.”

            The first Marengo project is just one of the renewable resources that PacifiCorp added in surpassing its commitment to have 400 megawatts of cost-effective new renewable resources in its generation portfolio by the end of 2007. This was a commitment made as part of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company’s acquisition of PacifiCorp, finalized in March 2006. The Marengo II project is in addition to that commitment.

            PacifiCorp recently increased its longer-term renewable resource target by announcing plans to acquire 2,000 megawatts of cost-effective renewable resources by 2013. In addition, the company has moved the target date for meeting its commitment of adding 1,400 megawatts of cost-effective renewable resources up from 2015 to 2010.

            With renewable portfolio standards now mandated by Oregon, Washington and California, and the possibility of federal standards in the future, planning is underway at Pacific Power to determine how best to meet these standards once all the compliance rules are completed.

           “We know renewable resources will continue to be an important part of the diversified generating portfolio that will serve our customers now and into the future,” Reiten said. “We’ve made that commitment, and we’re following through.”

            The Marengo II project is located on approximately 4,300 acres of agricultural land in Columbia County, though the actual project footprint is quite small, enabling the vast majority of the land to continue to be used for agricultural purposes. PacifiCorp is investing more than $100 million in the project, and this investment will have a beneficial impact on the county’s tax base. Landowners will receive lease payments over the life of the facility.

           “We are thrilled to have these projects in our area,” said Jennie Dickinson, manager of the Port of Columbia. “Rural, agricultural communities like Dayton have to diversify their economies to survive. These projects provide living-wage jobs for our residents, bring much needed new revenue to our businesses and governments and allow our agricultural way of life not only to continue but to thrive. We couldn’t ask for a better fit for our community.”

           “The Marengo projects are further proof that the wind industry, the utility sector and rural, agricultural communities can share the same visionary approach to securing economically and environmentally sustainable resource development,” said Jens Soby, president, Vestas Americas A/S. “It is a great pleasure for Vestas to experience the strong commitment from PacifiCorp, the local community and all parties involved in these successful projects. We have employees living in and around Dayton, and we are honored to be an active member of that community.”

           “RES is pleased to have played a role in successfully bringing this resource to PacifiCorp’s utility customers,” said Craig Mataczynski, president, RES. “We applaud PacifiCorp’s commitment to renewable sources of generation and look forward to the opportunity to work with them again on future projects.”

Combined, Marengo I and II will have the capability to serve the energy needs of approximately 54,000 customers.

            Other PacifiCorp/Pacific Power utility-scale renewable energy projects include:

Utility Owned/In Operation

·         Marengo I, a 140.4-megawatt project near Dayton, Wash.

·         Leaning Juniper 1, a 100.5-megawatt wind project near Arlington, Ore.

·         Foote Creek, a 41.4-megawatt wind energy project in Carbon County, Wyo. The company owns a 32.6-megawatt share of the facility.

·         Blundell, a 23-megawatt geothermal facility in Utah.

Purchased Power (doesn’t include smaller projects)

·         Wolverine Creek, a 64.5-megawatt wind farm near Idaho Falls. The company is purchasing 100 percent of the facility’s output.

·         Rock River I, a 50-megawatt wind facility in Carbon County, Wyo. The company is purchasing 100 percent of the facility’s output.

·         Combine Hills, a 41-megawatt wind facility near Milton-Freewater, Ore. The company is purchasing 100 percent of the facility’s output.

Announced/Under Construction

·         Marengo II, a 70.2-megawatt project near Dayton, Wash. Targeted for completion by June 2008.

·         Glenrock Wind Energy Project, a recently announced 99-megawatt project proposed at a site that includes a reclaimed surface coal mine in Wyoming. Construction will begin once necessary permits and approvals are in place, with completion targeted by the end of 2008.

·         Seven Mile Hill Wind Energy Project, a recently announced 99-megawatt project proposed in Wyoming. Construction will begin once necessary permits and approvals are in place, with completion targeted by the end of 2008.

·         Blundell expansion, adding an 11-megawatt efficiency enhancement to the company’s existing geothermal facility. Completion is expected by the end of 2007.

·         Hydro upgrades, adding 27 additional megawatts of renewable energy to the company’s system in 2006-2007, with more upgrades planned after 2010.

            The company continues to actively seek additional renewable resource options, with more announcements expected in coming months. More information on Pacific Power’s renewable resources is available at www.pacificorp.com.

About Pacific Power

Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power are part of PacifiCorp. PacifiCorp is one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, providing approximately 1.7 million customers with reliable, efficient energy. The company works to meet growing energy demand while protecting and enhancing the environment. PacifiCorp has more than 9,062 megawatts of generation from coal, hydro, gas-fired combustion turbines and renewable wind and geothermal power. PacifiCorp operates as Pacific Power in Oregon, Washington and California, and as Rocky Mountain Power in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho.

About Vestas Americas

Vestas Americas is the North American sales business unit of Vestas, the global leader in high-tech wind power systems and a driving force behind the development of the wind power industry. Vestas has sold 32 percent of the accumulated global megawatts of installed wind capacity, and has a track record of supplying more than 4,000 megawatts in the U.S. Vestas Americas has a workforce of more than 800 employees in the U.S. and Canada, with more than 220 employees working at the Portland, Ore.-based headquarters, Business Academyand Tools Warehouse. Vestas is currently establishing a blade factory in Windsor, Colo., which is expected to begin production in early 2008. For more information, please go to www.vestas.com or email Vestas Americas at lomo@vestas.com.

About RESAmerica Construction, Inc.

RES America Construction, Inc. is part of Renewable Energy Systems, a group of companies involved in the development, design, construction and ownership of wind farms worldwide. RES is one of the fastest growing renewable energy companies in the world and has been at the forefront of the wind industry from its onset. Founded in 1981, RES has wind projects across four continents and is part of the United Kingdom-based Sir Robert McAlpine Group. RES is represented in the Americasby RESAmericas, which has offices in Austin, Texas; Portland, Ore.; Minneapolis, Minn., and Montreal, Canada. RES Americas wind projects currently represent more than 10 percent of the operating wind farms in the U.S.On the Web at www.res-americas.com or info@res-americas.com.