News
Ridgeline Energy and BP Wind Energy Announce Power Purchse Agreement for Idaho Wind Farm
IDAHO FALLS, ID – APRIL 16, 2009 – Ridgeline Energy, LLC and BP Wind Energy have entered into a long-term agreement with Southern California Edison on a twenty-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 90 megawatts (MW) with an option to expand to up to 130 MW of new wind energy generation from the Goshen II project site in Bonneville County, Idaho. Goshen II is being developed as a joint venture between Ridgeline Energy and BP Wind Energy. The PPA now goes before the California Public Utilities Commission for approval.
Ridgeline Energy CEO Steve Voorhees said “The Goshen II project continues Ridgeline’s commitment to wind energy development in Idaho. The project will help diversify the region’s energy supply and continues southeastern Idaho’s tradition of clean energy generation.”
John Graham, President BP Wind Energy said: “Today marks an important step for BP in helping this nation increase its renewable energy portfolio. Together with our partner Ridgeline Energy we look forward to working in the community of Bonneville County, Idaho. Wind power offers domestic energy security, is a fuel that is abundant and free, and in operation produces no greenhouse gas emissions and uses no water.”
“Southern California Edison is currently the nation’s leading purchaser of renewable energy” said Stuart Hemphill, SCE Vice President, Renewable and Alternative Power. “The Goshen II project will help diversify our renewable energy resource portfolio and furthers our commitment to provide clean, affordable power to our customers.”
The Goshen II site is permitted and is located east of the city of Idaho Falls.
About Ridgeline Energy
Ridgeline Energy, LLC, with personnel located in Idaho, Oregon and Washington, focuses on developing utility-scale wind-energy projects in the western United States that meet our customers’ needs and provide significant benefits to our host communities and landowners. For more information visit www.ridgelineenergy.com
Ridgeline is part of Veolia Environnement (NYSE:VE) (Paris Euronext:VIE), the world’s largest environmental services company providing tailored solutions in energy management, water management, waste services, and freight and passenger transportation. In North America the Veolia Environnement operations groups maintain headquarters in Chicago, have been in operation for more than 30 years and employ more than 30,000 people. Visit the company's global Web site at www.veoliaenvironnement.com and the North American Web site at www.veolianorthamerica.com.
About BP Wind Energy/BP America:
BP Wind Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of BP, one of the world’s leading energy companies. BP Wind Energy is one of the leading wind developers in the U.S. with a wind portfolio that includes the opportunity to develop almost 100 projects with a potential total generating capacity of 20,000 megawatts (MW). BP Wind Energy has over 1,000 MW in commercial operation and more than 1,000 MW in an advanced stage of development.
BP America is the largest producer of oil and gas in the United States and one of the nation’s largest energy investors. For more information, visit the company’s Web sites at http://www.bpalternativenergy.com and http://www.bp.com/us
The Morning News ‹ Emily Hone
Wolverine rancher Peggy Stolworthy reviews notes from her testimony before a federal advisory committee on wind energy last week in Washington, D.C., that is developing guidelines for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for siting wind turbines.
By EMILY HONE
The Morning News
BLACKFOOT ‹ Bingham County rancher Peggy Stolworthy went to Washington last week and made such an impression on a federal advisory committee on wind energy they're still taking about her.
"They were very, very impressed with Peggy and the testimony she gave," said Rich Rayhill, vice president of Ridgeline Energy, Inc., who recommended Stolworthy to U.S. Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne when people were being sought to testify before the committee.
"They are still talking about her a week later when the hearings moved to Milwaukee," Rayhill said.
Rayhill was picked by Kempthorne to serve on the 22-member Department of Interior's National Wind Energy Advisory Committee before which Stolworthy testified.
The committee is charged with formulating guidelines for use by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in siting wind turbines to minimize or avoid adverse impacts on wildlife and its habitat.
Stolworthy was one of a five-member landowner's panel from four states who gave their views.
She said the committee wanted to know about their experience with wind energy development and its impact on wildlife and habitat; how USFWS guidelines can be used to assist with and enhance wind energy siting on private property; their experience in working with federal and state agencies to evaluate projects and in other areas; what opportunities exist for conservation easements as opposed to continued use of the land for farming and grazing; and what they would recommend as protection for wildlife and habitat.
As a rancher in the Wolverine area, she not only plans to lease land to Ridgeline Energy for the Goshen South Wind Energy Project, but signed a contract in 2001 so the first test wind turbines for the Wolverine Creek Energy Project could be erected, Stolworthy said, and had first-hand information to share.
Because she lives at her Wolverine ranch full-time, Stolworthy said, she's had plenty of opportunity to observe how wildlife reacts to the wind turbines as well as to the presence of people who came with housing development.
She told the committee that while there was some disturbance to wildlife while the first wind farm was going in, both the wildlife and habitat have since returned, something that is not true where there's been housing construction.
"The habitat comes back and so do the animals once the turbines are up," she said. "Housing on the other hand destroys the habitat forever. I live in the area where these animals are moving to escape the houses, and it feels as though they have less and less land as time goes by.
"I told the committee I can look over the hill and see where neighboring ranches are being developed into little ranchettes, whose owners consider our ranch their back yard. We have to deal with dogs that chase the cattle, deer, elk and moose. Most of the homeowners have 4-wheelers and some of them cut our fences to go for joy rides and make new trails on the sides of the hills.
"I feel the unlawful users of my land and the encroachment of urban development pose much greater threats to our wildlife than wind turbines." She told the committee her experience with state and federal wildlife agencies and the way they evaluate projects has been good, Stolworthy said. "I told them I have done several projects on our ranch where I worked with Idaho Fish and Game, DEQ, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Idaho Transportation Department , Idaho Department of Lands, the BLM and Corps of Engineers.
"I thought they had been very thorough in doing their jobs. We've done a creek restoration, and they helped install a twelve-mile pipeline to keep cattle off the creek bottoms and on the ridges, and the district conservationist checks to see that the sixteen watering troughs are working.
"We're involved in "Access Yes" program with Fish and Game and they have installed a sign-in box and posted signs and backed us all he way on trespassers.
Stolworthy said she told the group there are many opportunities for conservation easements, and she believes the resistance to them by some landowners is due largely to a lack of knowledge.
"Many people know very little about land trusts," she said. "I know I didn't until about three years ago when I learned the mission of a conservation easement is to protect and enhance quality of life, now and for future generations, through the conservation of the natural and working landscapes."
She said the Sage Steppe Land Trust, one of six in Idaho, worked with her family to protect critical habitat on the ranch. "We put forty acres where a creek bed had been moved before the land was purchased into a conservation easement," Stolworthy said.
"Over thirty years the creek had eroded to a depth of ten to fifteen feet. Working with the NRCS and Idaho Fish and Game, we restored the creek to its original channel and put it and the meadow into a Lifetime Conservation Trust. We can still graze the property and farm it, but the easement prohibits anyone from building structures on the property and restored the creek for bull and cutthroat trout."
Stolworthy said the move not only resulted in tax incentives, but reinforced her strong commitment to the environment and wildlife by protecting the land from future housing development.
As to the overall impact of wind turbines, Stolworthy said she told the committee that wind energy places a light footprint on the land, and careful consideration to siting the turbines will lessen that impact. Regarding her family's lease with Ridgeline, she said, their recommendation to the Bingham County Planning and Zoning Commission was that all involved state and federal land and wildlife agencies be involved in siting the turbines and starting new roads
"I told them if there had been a fish and wildlife guideline in place we could have just presented it to the county and told them we would abide by it."
Stolworthy said the membership of the advisory committee includes representatives from the wind energy industry, conservation groups such as the Audubon Society and Defenders of Wildlife, the Department of Energy, and Indian tribes.
She had the opportunity to visit one-on-one with the members following the meeting, Stolworthy said. "They were very interested in the fact I was a woman operating a ranch."
Rayhill said by phone that Stolworthy fully justified the faith shown by Kempthorne in putting her on the landowner panel. He said her testimony was articulate, to the point, and lived up to the expectations of Kempthorne and members of Idaho's Congressional Delegation when she was appointed.
In speaking with Sen. Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, Rayhill said, the senator acknowledged that wind power is a critical energy resource for Idaho and highly compatible with continuing agricultural use while generating additional revenue for farmers and ranchers.
"He said as a leader in wind research he was proud that Idaho was sending one of our local experts, Peggy Stolworthy, to testify before former Idaho Governor and Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne," Rayhill said.
"Rep. Mike Simpson, who grew up in Blackfoot, said Peggy was well qualified to testify because of her background and life experiences," Rayhill said. "He called her an environmental leader by example and well positioned to provide insight into our federal discussion."
Ridgeline Energy Project Manager Speaks About Proposed Bingham County Wind Farm Misconceptions
Major Idaho Wind Farm Project Approved by Bingham County Planning and Zoning Commission
BLACKFOOT, ID — Ridgeline Energy is pleased to announce that last night the Bingham County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a Special Use Permit for the Goshen South wind farm. The permit gives Ridgeline approval to build 150 wind turbines on leased land in Bingham County, Idaho. The wind farm will have the capability to generate up to 450 megawatts of electricity. One megawatt is enough electricity to meet the needs of about 650 homes.
Ridgeline Energy Vice President Rich Rayhill said, “The Goshen South project will more than double Idaho’s wind energy production. It will help to diversify the region’s energy supply and continues southeastern Idaho’s tradition of clean energy generation.” A 450 megawatt wind farm will avoid the emission of more than 2 billion pounds of carbon dioxide each year when compared with coal-fired electricity.
The wind farm will use only about 200 of the 20,212 acres in the project area, thereby helping to preserve existing uses of the land. The project will rely primarily on improving existing public and farm roads to meet the wind farm’s needs for road access. Landowner Kelly Bingham said, “We love this area and want to see it maintain its rural character. The wind farm will help us hold onto our land and keep it available for farming, ranching, recreation and wildlife habitat.”
Construction of the wind farm could begin in 2009 and will provide a substantial stimulus to the local economy in the form of construction jobs and local expenditures for goods and services needed in construction. Construction will require more than 200 workers. Ridgeline’s Project Manager Randy Gardner said, “Ridgeline is committed to hiring locally for the wind farm construction. We look to working closely with the local business community in the construction of this project.”
The long-term need for an operations work force will create a number of new, family-wage local jobs. When completed, the project will provide a large and steady source of tax revenue for Bingham County, primarily through the local property tax. Tax revenues to the County could total from $24 million to more than $100 million over a 30 year operating period, depending on factors such as electricity prices and total generating capacity.
Ridgeline Energy Executive Appointed to U.S. Wind Advisory Group
Seattle, WA — October 31, 2007 —Ridgeline Energy, LLC announced today the appointment of Rich Rayhill, Vice President, to a new wind turbine guidelines advisory committee established by Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. Mr. Rayhill is one of 22 individuals named to serve on the advisory committee which will advise the Secretary and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on measures to avoid or minimize impacts to wildlife and their habitats from land-based wind-energy facilities.
Committee members represent various wind-energy and wildlife conservation interests and will serve as an advisory body providing recommendations on effective measures to protect wildlife resources and coordinate the review and evaluation of wind-energy facilities by state, tribal, local, and federal agencies.
In January 2007 Mr. Rayhill received Idaho Governor Butch Otter's Renewable Energy Award in recognition for his contributions to the growth of wind energy in Idaho.
“Ridgeline is very pleased to have Mr. Rayhill invited to participate in this important undertaking,” said Steve Voorhees, Ridgeline’s CEO. “Wind turbine siting must be undertaken in a responsible manner to ensure proper care of the environment and use of public lands so that wind energy can be harnessed to help meet our nation’s energy needs.”
Ridgeline Energy, LLC, is a Seattle, Washington based wind energy developer, established in 2000, that focuses on developing large scale wind energy projects in the Pacific Northwest and western United States. Ridgeline developed Idaho's first large-scale wind energy facility, and is currently developing wind projects in diverse locations with a potential capacity of 9,000 megawatts.
Ridgeline Energy Supports New Idaho Wind Policy
BOISE, ID — March 21, 2007 — Idaho Governor C. L. "Butch" Otter today signed two bills into law to encourage wind energy development in Idaho. The first, House Bill 130, clears the way for wind farms on state endowment lands. Royalties received from wind power generation will directly benefit Idaho schools. The second, House Bill 189, restructures the method of personal property taxation to ease the burden on Idaho wind farms in the early years of operation. Both bills cleared the legislature without a single dissenting vote.
"We greatly appreciate the support of Governor Otter and legislators in both houses for this important legislation which will facilitate the growth of wind energy in Idaho's rural counties and bring meaningful benefits to landowners and energy consumers," said Rich Rayhill, vice president of Ridgeline Energy, which drafted and carried both bills. "It will help attract new investment capital, bring new wind farms on line sooner, diversify the state's energy base and reduce our reliance on foreign sources of energy."
These bills add to previous renewable energy legislation, also sponsored by Ridgeline, which was enacted in 2005. Ridgeline CEO Stephen Voorhees stated, "These bills reflect Ridgeline's commitment to responsible wind energy development in Idaho and our dedication to effective partnership on energy policy. We believe the potential exists to develop 3,000 megawatts of wind energy in Idaho over the next ten years. This would represent capital investment in excess of five billion dollars and could help Idaho make the transition from a net importer of power to a net exporter. Farmers and ranchers across the state could realize significant income and rural economies could blossom under this development."
In January 2007 Rayhill received Governor Otter's Renewable Energy Award in recognition for his contributions to the growth of wind energy in Idaho.
Ridgeline Energy is a leading developer of renewable energy projects with forty-nine projects under current development in seven western states, including Idaho.
Dover lawmaker pushes production tax for wind farms
By Jared S. Hopkins, Times-News writer
BOISE, ID — Wind turbines, those domineering and swooping machines of clean energy growing in both numbers and popularity, are being noticed by lawmakers.
Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, introduced legislation Tuesday that would relieve commercial wind farms of paying property taxes and instead require a form of excise tax - a "production tax," he said - through 3 percent of their annual gross revenue.
Eskridge and energy lobbyists said the owners of the turbines rarely have enough capital to pay property taxes immediately. The law would give them additional time by taxing their energy output, as well as give investors a chance to make steadier payments and provide counties up to 10 percent more money for 20 years.
A similar measure passed in the House last year but stalled in the Senate.
"You are talking a lot of time to get into production," Eskridge said after his presentation to the Revenue and Taxation Committee.
The idea is that property taxes are determined from market value, which will force the property value to decrease over time. The production tax, meanwhile, would always reflect the turbines' current value.
Eskridge said by the time companies provide actual energy to customers they have already been heavily taxed - without any income. He said turbine production costs will rise 60 percent this year.
"(The bill) is very important because the price of turbines has gone up," he said.
Some owners of wind-turbines Tuesday were receptive to the idea, including Jared Grover, a developer in Hagerman who plans to build two separate wind farms and is currently working out a deal with Idaho Power Company.
Grover echoed sentiments expressed during the committee meeting and said the toughest part of starting wind farms is having the capital to hook up into power systems. Initially, Idaho Power asked him to find the $60 million to be incorporated.
Grover said the new tax system might end up costing the initial builder money in the long run, but overall would provide investors with a steady stream of investment and communities with consistent income.
"I can't see any downside for anyone," Grover said. "The current system is actually overcharging us - it's just you're essentially paying for your fuel by getting (the turbine) up there and buying all the fuel before you start anything."
Twin Falls County Comm-issioner Tom Mikesell, referencing a now-defunct Bell Rapids wind farm, said he would support the legislation if it did in fact bring in more money.
"If that's the direction they're going and that canactually happen then I'll support that," he said.
Mikesell said the bill - which would be retroactive to Jan. 1 2007 - would be a good safety net should the Legislature this session repeal personal property taxes for businesses.
The legislation is being pushed on behalf of Ridgeline Energy, a wind farm energy company with expansion aspirations. It recently introduced a bill to allow the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners to determine on a case-by-case basis when state land should be leased commercially.
Statehouse correspondent Jared S. Hopkins can be reached at 343-0901 or jhopkins@magicvalley.com.
Ridgeline Energy Signs Corporate Finance Agreement with HSH Nordbank
Seattle, Washington — February 7, 2007 — Ridgeline Energy, LLC announced today that it has signed a financing agreement with HSH Nordbank AG, New York Branch, providing funds to support Ridgeline's rapidly expanding wind energy development activities. Specific terms were not disclosed.
"We are pleased to have completed this financing with HSH Nordbank enabling us to finance the growth and diversification of our project pipeline," said Stephen Voorhees, chairman and CEO of Ridgeline. "HSH Nordbank has demonstrated a strong commitment to the wind and renewable energy business, having completed numerous project and equipment financings recently."
About Ridgeline Energy
Ridgeline Energy, LLC focuses on developing utility-scale wind energy projects in the Pacific Northwest and western United States. Ridgeline developed Idaho's first large- scale wind farm and is currently developing several wind projects and a portfolio of sites representing more than 3,700 megawatts of potential capacity. For more information please visit www.ridgelineerergy.com.
About HSH Nordbank
HSH Nordbank is an international bank with headquarters in Germany, assets of over US$235 Billion, and offices in New York, San Francisco, and major international money centers. HSH Nordbank continues to have a strong commitment to the energy and project finance sectors globally. The New York Branch has a team of structured finance professionals focusing on power generation, including renewable energy projects, transmission, and oil and gas. HSH Nordbank also has leading positions in real estate and transportation finance. For further information, please see www.hsh-nordbank.com
January 30, 2007
Ridgeline Executive Receives Idaho Governor's Renewable Energy Award
Boise, Idaho — January 30, 2007 — Ridgeline Energy, LLC vice president Rich Rayhill today received the Renewable Energy Award from Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter in recognition for Rayhill's contributions to the growth of wind energy in Idaho.
Governor Otter stated, "I am pleased to recognize Rich Rayhill's pioneering work, undaunted spirit and unflagging dedication in making wind power a reality in Idaho. Mr. Rayhill was one of the sparkplugs behind the successful development of the Wolverine Creek wind power generating facility located near Idaho Falls. Rayhill continues to work with our citizen legislators to improve Idaho's economic environment so that we might attract the great variety of rural economic opportunity possible from the growth of renewable energy development."
Rayhill conducted the initial research in identifying the Wolverine Creek wind site, negotiated contracts with landowners, obtained the necessary local, state and federal permits, conducted the environmental studies and made other pioneering efforts vital to lay the foundation for the project. The final piece of the Wolverine Creek puzzle was the renewable energy equipment sales tax exemption enacted in April 2005. The 64.5 megawatt project, Idaho's only large-scale wind farm, went on-line in December 2005. It was initially developed by Ridgeline and eventually sold to Invenergy, who built and currently operates the project on approximately 3,080 acres in Bingham and Bonneville counties. The wind farm provides jobs, landowner royalties, and roughly $900,000 yearly in property taxes in these two counties and supplies electricity to approximately 17,500 residences.
Ridgeline CEO Steve Voorhees commented, "We congratulate Rich on receiving this award and thank Governor Otter for his recognition of our work and for his leadership in developing the state's wind resources."
Ridgeline Energy LLC focuses on developing utility-scale wind energy projects in the Pacific Northwest and western United States. Ridgeline developed Idaho's first large-scale wind farm and is currently developing several wind projects and a portfolio of sites representing more than 3,700 megawatts of potential capacity. For more information, please visit www.ridgelineenergy.com.
December 13, 2006
Ridgeline Energy, LLC Announces Interconnection
Agreement for Idaho Wind Project
BOISE, Idaho — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Ridgeline Energy, LLC announced today the completion of a large-generator interconnection agreement with PacifiCorp to support Goshen II, a proposed 90-megawatt wind project near Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Goshen II is being developed as a joint venture between Ridgeline Energy and BP Alternative Energy. The companies have obtained conditional use permits from Bonneville and Bingham counties and completed all necessary meteorological and engineering studies to construct the project in 2007.
Ridgeline Energy, LLC focuses on developing utility-scale wind energy projects in the Pacific Northwest and western United States. Ridgeline developed Idaho's first large-scale wind farm and is currently developing several wind projects and a portfolio of sites representing more than 3,700 megawatts of potential capacity. For more information, please visit www.ridgelineenergy.com.
BP is one of the world's largest energy companies, with interests in more than 100 countries and over 96,000 employees. BP Alternative Energy, launched in November 2005, combines all of BP's interests in low and zero-carbon power generation: wind, solar, hydrogen power with carbon capture and storage and gas-fired power generation. BP Alternative Energy is one of the leading wind developers in the United States and is building a total of more than 450 megawatts of new wind facilities in 2007.