BPA Interconnection of the Proposed Shepherds Flat Wind Farm
Gilliam & Morrow Counties, Oregon

• PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

  
  BPA has been asked to interconnect up to 846 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the Shepherds Flat Wind Farm, a private energy facility, proposed in Gilliam and Morrow counties, Ore. The BPA interconnection facility would require constructing a new yard at an existing BPA substation in Gilliam County in 2008 and 2009. BPA does not propose to purchase any of the power produced by this wind project.
  
  Caithness Shepherds Flat, LLC would develop the wind project on privately owned grazing and farming land near the town of Arlington. The wind project would be developed in phases, with the eventual installation of up to 303 3.0 MW turbines. Two transmission lines would be constructed between the wind project and the BPA interconnection site.
  
  The wind project must go through Oregon Energy Facilities Siting Council (EFSC) review in order to obtain a site certification. The developer, through the EFSC Site Certificate Application process, has conducted environmental studies for the proposed wind project and associated facilities and is in the final stages of Siting Council review.
  
  

• CURRENT STATUS:

  
  The BPA interconnection project has completed the environmental review stage and is proceeding to construction. BPA issued a Record of Decision (ROD) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on July 18, 2008. BPA believes the decision to interconnect the wind project is consistent with BPA's Business Plan ROD, August 1995 and Business Plan Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), June 1995.
  
  

• PUBLIC MEETINGS:

  
  BPA held a scoping meeting on October 25, 2006. The comment period is now closed.
  
  

• COMMENTS:

  
  If you would like to be on the project mail list please send your name and mailing address to Bonneville Power Administration, Communications - DKC-7, P.O. Box 14428, Portland, OR 97293-4428 or FAX it to 503-230-3285 or send it to the BPA Public Comment page by clicking here.
  
  

• CONTACT:

  
  Douglas F. Corkran, Environmental Specialist, Bonneville Power Administration - KEC-4, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621; direct telephone number 503-230-7646; toll-free telephone number 1-800-282-3713; fax number 503-230-5699; e-mail address: dfcorkran@bpa.gov.
  
  

• DOCUMENTS:

  
  
  • ROD Public Letter (28Kb pdf) (07/21/08)
  • Record of Decision (125Kb pdf) (07/18/08)
  • ROD Figure 1 (338Kb pdf) (07/18/08)
  • Public Comments (November 2006)
  • Public Comment Form (48Kb pdf) (10/04/06)
  • Public Meeting Materials (125Kb pdf) (10/04/06)
  • Project Proposal Letter (134Kb pdf) (10/04/06)
  • BPA Shepherds Flat Wind Farm Interconnection Information Sheet for EFSEC Meeting (26Kb pdf) (07/28/06)
  • EFSC Notice of Intent Letter for Shepherds Flat Wind Farm (with EFSC contact information) (23Kb pdf) (06/27/06)
  • Project Vicinity Map (1.45MB pdf) (02/22/06)