Gaelectric Northwest - Wind Power Development in the Northwest

Steps for Developing a Wind Farm

Developing a commercial scale wind farm is a process that can take as little as 16 months or as long as 10 years or more. Factors include the availability of existing open capacity transmission lines or the need to build new lines, governmental requirements for studies and engineering prior to permitting, lending institution requirements regarding wind data and performance expectations, electric utility providers’ ability to assimilate the additional load into their distribution network, and the timing and availability of wind turbine components, to name a few.

As a guideline, the steps in development generally are;

1. A wind development company identifies a land area that is believed to have sufficient wind resources to justify the investment in a wind powered electrical generation facility, commonly called a wind farm.
2. Landowners are identified and contacted to gauge the receptiveness to wind farm development and if sufficient interest is evidenced.
3. Negotiations may result in landowners and developers reaching an agreement to allow the developer to spend additional monies on various studies including wind data collection, phase one archeological and historical studies, wildlife and avian studies, communication tower signal zones and preliminary site layout.
4. If the various phase one studies and due diligence reveal that the site is worth further investment, governmental agencies may be consulted regarding the permitting climate and expectations, and deposits must be placed with the electrical transmission providers for the queue position, feasibility study costs, etc.
5. If indications are positive, comprehensive studies and analysis will be authorized and permitting will begin in earnest. At this stage, community input and education will begin. Discussions will begin with potential power purchasers and turbine component suppliers.
6. Once permitting has been obtained, construction schedules will be developed and contracts will be executed with the necessary contractors and materials suppliers.
7. Construction will begin and turbines will be brought online and begin electrical production according to the schedule/phasing plan in conjunction with the power purchasers schedule.