Sherman County Wind Farmers
Renewable Energy Wind Project Serving the Mid-Columbia Oregon
The Sherman County Wind Farmers ultimate goal is to develop a locally owned renewable wind energy from agricultural resources in Sherman County Oregon. Locally owned means agricultural producers have a significant direct financial stake in the project. They own one hundred percent of the land and wind rights. The Sherman County Wind Farmers plan to establish a 20 meggawatt commerical-scale renewable wind energy project to increase direct and indirect social economic benefits to Sherman County and Mid-Columbia Oregon communities. The project has garnered significant support from local businesses, community members, and local and state government.
The Sherman County Wind Farmers have applied for and received Value-Added Producer Planning Grant fro USDA Rural Development to establish the feasibility of a “community wind” project. Wy'East role was to assist the Sherman County Wind Farmers to prepare the Value-Added Producer Grant. The Sherman County Wind Farmers project leveraged community assets in a cooperative conservation effort with local farmers, Sherman County, Western Wind Power, Oregon Energy Trust, Oregon State University and Wyeast.
Oregon has a strong focus on community owned renewable projects and a number of state incentives to facilitate these projects.
- Federal Production Tax Credits (PTC) and accelerated depreciation of the project provide approximately 25% of project costs to interested tax motivated equity investors.
- Oregon State’s Business Energy Tax Credits (BETC) program provides 25% of project costs by selling State tax credits. Oregon State’s Sustainable
- Energy Loan Program (SELP) provides low interest debt financing for renewable energy projects.
- The Oregon Legislature in 2007 enacted legislation that will create a renewable portfolio standard where eight percent of the States power is to be provided by locally owned renewable energy projects.
- The Energy Trust of Oregon receives public purpose funding to augment community renewable energy projects.
This Mid-Columbia region proves exceptional for wind power generation. Currently four wind projects generate 400 MWs. One of those projects is the Klondike Wind Farm.