Puget Sound Energy (PSE) says it has completed the construction of 149 wind turbines that will power the utility's 343 MW Lower Snake River Wind Project – Phase I in southeast Washington.
Crews now are focused on finishing the construction of two large substations and eight miles of high-voltage transmission lines that will send the wind facility's electricity to a nearby Bonneville Power Administration substation. From there, the renewable energy will move on to the region's electric grid.
Construction of the project began in May 2010, when PSE and its lead contractor, RES Americas – together with turbine manufacturer Siemens Energy and various subcontractors – started building turbine access roads and laying underground electric and fiber-optic cable between the 149 individual wind turbine locations. PSE's staff will manage the production and transmission of the wind facility's electric power, while Siemens employees will be responsible for all maintenance of the wind turbines.
The project is scheduled to be operational by next spring.
