GE to supply turbines for Oregon project

GE has received a $1.4bn (£860,000) contract from Caithness Energy to supply wind turbines and provide services for an 845MW wind-farm project in Oregon.

Spread across 30 square miles of Gilliam and Morrow Counties in north-central Oregon, the 845MW Shepherds Flat project marks the largest single global order of GE’s 2.5xl wind turbines.

A total of 338 turbines will be installed, which, according to US Environmental Protection Agency methodology, will provide enough energy to power approximately 235,000 average California households.

In addition to supplying the wind turbines, GE will provide 10 years of operational and maintenance services to the project.

Caithness Energy estimates that the $2bn project will inject $16m annually of direct economic benefits into Oregon and will employ 400 workers during construction and 35 during operation.

Construction, which is due to begin in 2010 and end in 2012, will require 85 miles (137km) of new road and 90 miles of power connection to the grid.

Under three 20-year power purchase agreements, the Shepherds Flat wind farm will supply renewable energy to Southern California Edison, an Edison International company.