Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 8, 2001
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Wind turbines will create new energy for Washington, Locke says

WALLA WALLA - The world's largest windmill development project will provide a significant boost to the region's electricity supply, Gov. Gary Locke said today.

Locke visited the Stateline Wind Generating Project located along the Washington-Oregon border southwest of Walla Walla. The project is scheduled to go into full operation by the end of this year. It is owned by FPL Energy, LLC and PacificCorp. will purchase and market its power.

"The 450 wind turbines at Stateline will produce up to 300 megawatts of electricity and that's enough to power 70,000 homes each year," the governor said.

He noted he has introduced a bill in the Legislature that extends sales tax breaks currently enjoyed by large projects such as Stateline to individuals and companies wishing to build small smaller scale wind projects of 200 kilowatts or less.

"This will help the farmer, small business owner and homeowner who want to do their part to find alternative energy sources," Locke said.

The governor emphasized he personally has been working very closely with companies to expedite new sources of electricity while protecting air quality.

"I strongly support alternative sources of energy that don't rely on fossil and nuclear fuels and don't harm the environment," Locke said. "That's why my energy package would require all utilities to increase their reliance on renewable energy sources, such as wind."

Locke added he is also working on additional production from generating facilities that use natural gas and other conventional fuels.

"The principle that's guiding me as I make decisions about allowing power plants in Washington to exceed federal air pollution standards -- even temporarily -- is this: there can be no net harm to the environment. Any increase in air pollution must be offset pound for pound - over a period of time. Any relaxation of federal permitting rules must be accompanied by clear benefits to the environment," Locke said.

He noted he personally worked with companies such as Avista Corp. and BP-Amoco to allow them to increase electricity production.

On Tuesday he announced those and other companies would be bringing some 1,500 megawatts of new production on line in upcoming months.

"During the negotiations those companies agreed to take extraordinary measures to go beyond my standard of no net pollution increase," Locke said. "These companies agreed with me that they must take steps above and beyond the norm to get us where we need to be quickly."

"In addition, Avista and BP-Amoco have agreed to make significant financial contributions to help low income people pay their energy bills," the governor added.

But he also emphasized that despite the new power coming from the windmills and energy plants, Washington residents still had to conserve as much electricity and water as possible.

"We probably are heading into one of the most serious droughts on record this spring and summer," Locke said. "Every kilowatt and ounce of water we save now will be available later this summer when our rivers and reservoirs could be dry."

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