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County closes in on wind power option

[July 25th, 2009]

Hood River County officials are interested in siting six wind turbines on Middle Mountain to generate revenue – but the project is far from a done deal. "We are still trying to determine if it makes sense to do this," said Bill Fashing, economic development coordinator. After five years of renewable energy exploration, Fashing said wind power looks promising as a revenue source. However, he said a "fatal flaw" analysis is underway to determine if any outstanding environmental or technical problems exist that could derail the project. A visual impact analysis is also being conducted for the site at the ridgeline of Dee Flat. The nearest residence is about is 1.4 miles away from that location. The turbines, from the tip of the blades to the ground, will reach 380 feet high. Tenneson Engineering of The Dalles is analyzing roadways to determine what issues could be faced in bringing equipment to the site. For example, the turbine blades are 127 feet long and Fashing is unsure if a truck could navigate Exit 64 from Interstate 84 in order to access Highway 35. He said the machines might have to be transported over Mount Hood via Highway 26. Once all of the final data from the current studies has been compiled, Fashing said a series of public forums will be scheduled. He said data has also been posted as it becomes available on the county’s Web site. (07/25/2009) Hood River News

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