Feb 11 2011
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced that it will conduct a public opinion meeting during this month about the Phase III proposal of the Milford Wind Corridor project. Boston-based FirstWind is the developer of the project.
According to the Phase III proposal, FirstWind will develop a wind power farm at 45 miles south of Delta. The expansion could comprise up to 300 wind turbine generators, a connector road system, an underground power collection system and a managing and maintenance facility.
Wind Turbines Arrangement in Milford Wind Corridor Project
FirstWind’s Phase I comprises 97 wind turbines producing 204 MW of wind energy . The Milford II will feature 68 wind turbines to produce 102 MW of wind power. The spokesperson of FirstWind, John Lamontange, stated that as of now, about 22 wind turbines are installed at Phase II. The Phase II would come online with additional 12 or so towers installed by late spring or early summer of 2011.
FirstWind is now working closely with the BLM to determine the environmental effects of the planned expansion. This analysis will be carried out in combination with the Environmental Impact Statement of the US Department of Interior on wind energy development on public lands in the west.
According to the Phase III proposal, the wind turbines would be installed in parallel rows from west-northwest to east-southeast and farther apart by nearly one mile. Depending on the type, the towers would have a height of up to 391 ft. and the diameter of the wind turbine rotors would be up to 368 ft.
Lamontagne commented that FirstWind has signed power purchase deals with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Southern California Public Power Authority for Phase I and II. No such deals have been inked for Phase III or possible future phases of the project.