Understanding Community Wind Energy
Development in Oregon
Yao Yin
Idaho Wind Working Group
March 14, 2012
Structure
• Introduction
• GIS Suitability Analysis
• Policies and Incentives
• Empirical Case Studies
• Major Findings
Defining Community Wind
1. Small Scale
2. Local Ownership
Developing a Community Wind Project
Where is the suitable site for wind energy?
Policies and Incentives for Community Wind Projects
Methodology:
• Project developers
• Project owners
• government officials
• Morrow County, Sherman
County, Umatilla County,
Lake County, Baker
County, and Gilliam
County
Socio-Political Evaluation of Energy
Deployment (SPEED) framework
• ODOE, ODOA, CREA
Actor-Network Theory Framework
• A Qualitative Social Approach
• Emphasizes both human actors and non-human
actors in a project.
• Interaction between technology and society,
such as wind energy deployment
• Opportunities and Barriers
Project Names
Stage
PáTu
Operational
Sayrs
Middle
Mountain
MCCOG’s
Project
Big Valley
Late-Stage of
Development
Stopped
Major Barriers
Collapse of Financial Sector
Did not Receive BETC
Presence of Scenic Landscape;
Strong Public Opposition
Early-Stage of
Presence of Endangered Species on
Development
BLM’s Land
Mid-Stage of
Presence of Endangered Species on
Development
BLM’s Land; Presence of Military
Training Routes; Proximity to
Traditional Cultural Property
Lime
Development
Securing Mid-Sized Refurnished
Finished;
Turbines; Securing Construction
Construction Will Financing
Start Soon
Butter Creek Operational
Changes of BETC; Local
Power
Opposition for Original
Transmission Route
Major Opportunities
Availability of ITC Grant;
Construction Loan from
CoBank; Investment from Two
Wealthy Families; Being
Surrounded by Other Large
Wind Projects
Having PáTu as an Example;
Local Government Securing
Transmission Capacity for
Community Wind Projects
County Government’s Support
Member Governments’ Support
Local Support; Energy Trust of
Oregon’s Anemometer Loan;
CREFF Fund
BLM’s Guidance; BETC;
SELP; ITC Grant; REAP Grant;
REAP Loan Guarantees;
Manufacturers’ Contributions
Having Professional
Developers; Investment from
John Deere
Summary
Project Names
PáTu
Sayrs
Middle Mountain
MCCOG’s Project
Big Valley
Lime
Butter Creek Power
Opportunities
and Barriers
• Thank You!