December 2, 2003 - ANL Wind Energy EIS Web Site: On behalf of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Environmental Assessment Division of Argonne National Laboratory has launched the Wind Energy Development Programmatic EIS Information Center web site (http://windeis.anl.gov). This web site provides an online public information and involvement center for the Wind Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Programmatic EIS is being prepared by BLM to evaluate issues associated with wind energy development on western public lands (excluding Alaska) administered by the BLM.

June 17, 2003 - Wind Power Project Summaries: One-page summaries (with color photos and maps) are now available for five wind power projects (Condon, Foote Creek I & II, Klondike, and Stateline).

December 5, 2002 - Final Synthesis and Comparison of Baseline Avian and Bat Use, Raptor Nesting and Mortality Information from Proposed and Existing Wind Developments:  BPA released today it's final meta analysis (PDF, 129 pages, 597 kb) comparing both seasonal and landscape avian and bat use with mortality. Information was compiled with data from more than 30 study areas at 15 wind projects. The analysis shows that:  a) raptor mortality is low or absent at new generation wind projects,  b) that more than 80% of avian mortality at wind projects is associated with passerines (small song birds),  c) wind plants with year round waterfowl use have the highest mortality, and native landscapes have very low water fowl use, except when located near large bodies of water,  d) Bat mortality has been primarily associated with migration, and mortality comprises only a small fraction of bat passes. Bat mortality is virtually non-existent during the nesting periods,  e) raptor use data collected during one season (spring, summer or fall) are adequate for making overall wind plant impact predictions,  f) there is a very low correlation between raptor nest density and mortality, and  g) high use should trigger more than one season of studies and micro-siting should be considered.

November 27, 2002 - Preliminary Wind Integration Study Available: BPA released today its first study on the impacts of intermittent resources - specifically wind generation - on the BPA hydro-thermal system. This preliminary study (dated September 2002, PDF, 47 pages, 365 kb) is based on only four months of operating wind plant and system load data. This study is an early analysis by the author and does not reflect any policy or marketing position by BPA. BPA is conducting an internal study using a full year of operating data to determine the long-term impacts of integrating wind power into BPA's control area.

May 31, 2002 - NW Wind Power Maps Available: Bonneville Power Administration is a sponsor of the Northwestern U.S. Wind Mapping Project. High resolution maps of wind energy potential are now available for all states in the BPA service territory (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, and portions of California, Nevada and Utah) at the Wind Power Maps web site.

April 29, 2002 - Reminder on Leasing Property to Wind Power Project Developers: See BPA's Press Release dated September 20, 2001 (PDF, 3 pages, 118 kb) for important information for anyone attempting to lease property to Wind Power Project developers. If you need additional information, please contact Sheila Riewer at smriewer@bpa.gov, or 503-230-5473.

June 28, 2001 - Wind Projects Selected: It is with a great deal of pleasure that Bonneville announces the selections from this year's Request for Wind Project Proposals. Please see the Department of Energy's news release (PDF, 16 kb), the shortlist of selected projects (PDF, 6 kb), and the complete list of the bidders (PDF, 7 kb).

April 27, 2001 - Astonishing number of wind generation proposals blows into BPA: Yesterday BPA issued a Press Release (PDF, 35 kb) announcing the details of the Request for Wind Project Proposals that closed April 20, 2001.

March 27, 2001 - RESPONSE PERIOD FOR WIND PROJECT PROPOSALS IS EXTENDED TWO WEEKS: Proposals are now due by 3:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Friday, April 20, 2001.

March 27, 2001 - This Q&A (PDF, 33 pages, 66 kb) is the actual transcription of the Bidder's Conference held on March 7, 2001. "Getting Back To You" Items (PDF, 2 pages, 7 kb) is the collection of questions and answers from the Bidder's Conference. The UWIG document (PDF, 217 kb) is the Power System Impact Study referred to during the conference.

March 23, 2001 - The Request for Wind Project Proposals and Exhibit B: Predevelopment Agreement Example have been revised. Here are both redline versions (so you can see what changed) and versions with the changes accepted:

• Request for Wind Project Proposals - Redline version (PDF, 64 kb)
• Request for Wind Project Proposals - Version with revisions accepted (PDF, 59 kb)
• Exhibit B: PDA Example - Redline version (PDF, 63 kb)
• Exhibit B: PDA Example - Version with revisions accepted (PDF, 60 kb)
   

March 22, 2001 - Here is Exhibit C: Example of a Power Purchase Agreement (PDF, 38 pages, 93 kb) for the BPA Request for Wind Project Proposals (see Feb. 26th announcement). The Q&A will be posted in the next couple of days.

March 6, 2001 - According to previous communications (see Feb. 26th announcement), here is Exhibit B, the Predevelopment Agreement (PDF, 9 pages, 59 kb). Please check back to this site for Exhibit C, the Power Purchase Agreement, which will be available either later today, or tomorrow.

March 5, 2001 -- Address Correction for Bidders Conference: The Request for Wind Project Proposals posted on February 26th (see below) has an incorrect address for the Bidders Conference on Wednesday, March 7 (9 AM - Noon). The correct address is:

Bonneville Power Administration
905 N.E. 11th Avenue, Room 122
Portland, OR 97232

See link to map. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact Sheila Riewer at 503.230.5473 or smriewer@bpa.gov.

February 26, 2001 -- On February 22nd, BPA issued a press release (PDF, 2 pages, 106 kb) announcing that it is soliciting proposals for new large-scale wind power projects. The Request for Wind Project Proposals (PDF, 22 pages, 80 kb) sets a minimum of 15 average megawatts (about 40 to 60 megawatts of nameplate capacity). A BPA service area map (PDF, 361 kb) is available to determine the location and size of the various transmission lines. Also available is the Wind Project Development Schedule (PDF, 16 kb). If you want to receive subsequent notices please send an e-mail (including name, company, mailing address and telephone number) to Sheila Riewer at smriewer@bpa.gov to enable addition to the distribution/mailing list.