Wind Today - Q1 2008 - (Page 29)

Pete Ferrell, a fourth generation rancher with property near Beaumont, KS, could prove there was commercially scalable wind resource on his land. He just needed a company he trusted to develop and build the wind farm he envisioned. Ferrell’s vision was realized on May 11, 2006, when PPM Energy, Portland, OR (503-796-7000), dedicated the Elk River Wind Farm on a 7,907 acre site that includes property owned by Ferrell. The 150 megawatt (MW) wind farm, comprised of 100 1.5 MW GE wind turbines, is located in Butler County about 45 miles east of Wichita, KS. The wind farm is expected to provide enough electricity to serve approximately 42,000 homes for the next 20 years. How How it Began In 1995, Ferrell was approached by a developer who set up meteorological towers and collected data until he walked away from the project in 1998. However, Ferrell retained the equipment and data. After being courted by six different developers, in 2001 Ferrell contracted with Greenlight Energy, Charlottesville, VA, to continue development of his land as a wind farm. “I chose Greenlight because I saw in them a willingness to cooperate and negotiate, entrepreneurial conviction, courage, integrity, and commitment to take a risk and get the job done,” says Ferrell. According to Ferrell, Greenlight completed the initial phase of the development, then sold the project in December 2004 to PPM Energy when it was time to begin construction. Ferrell is one of four landowners who have turbines on their property. Fifty of the farm’s 100 wind turbines, as well as the project’s substation, have been constructed on his ranch. The wind farm’s interconnect switch station that PPM Energy built for Westar is on a fifth landowner’s property. “I believe Greenlight chose PPM knowing the standards that I wanted upheld,” says Ferrell. Facility Highlights Location: Butler County, KS, approximately 45 miles east of Wichita, near Beaumont. Size: 150 MW, 100 turbines Distance Between Towers: 500 to 2,000 ft. within each string Number of Landowners: five Developer: Greenlight Energy Owner: PPM Energy Project Capacity: 150 MW Power Contract: Empire District Electric Company Connector & Transmission System: 4.2 mile transmission line connects the project substation (Elk River substation) to the interconnection substation (Latham Switching Station). Substation: Two power transformer bays (34.5 to 345 kV) with a switchgear enclosure housing six 34.5 kV breakers to a six circuit collector feeder system. Utility: Westar Commercial Operation: December, 2005 Turbine Access: approximately 20 miles of gravel surfaced roads T urbine Features Turbines: GE 1.5 Rated Output: 1.5 MW (1,500 kW) Turbine Height: (to the tip of the highest blade) 118.5 meters (389 ft.) Turbine Weight: Tower—270,000 lbs., Rotor—73,000 lbs., Nacelle—115,000 lbs. Foundation: Concrete octagonal spread footing 48 ft. in diameter. Tower: Three-section tubular steel, 80 meters (262.5 ft.) Key Personnel: Project Manager: Ryan Orban Construction Manager: Erik Lallum 29

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Wind Today - Q1 2008

Wind Today - Q1 2008 Contents Windpower 2008 U.S. Energy Map Canada Energy Map Global Report Options and Expectations for O&M Service Providers O&M Safety Issues for Wind Farms Guanting Wind Farm to Power 2008 Olympics Operating Economics of Wind Farms Long-Term Operating Costs Post-Warranty Energy Bill Incentives May Have Another Chance Wind Gears: A Closer Look at the Drive Train Elk River Wind Farm Should Lightning Be A Concern For Wind Farms? Interview: Steve Sawyer Zephyr Powers Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort WT News: United States & Canada Interview: Willett Kempton Centennial Wind Energy WT Transmission: Southwest Power Pool EPA's Top 25 Wind Power Projects 2008 RPS Update Mark Scher, MSE Power Systems Richard Legault, Helimax Second Wind Henkels & McCoy NRG Systems Apterra Technologies, Inc. Wind Resource Maps: Michigan and New York Calendar Glossary Product Surveys Ad Index

Wind Today - Q1 2008

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