Letter to the Editor: Iberdrola Wind Farm Project

Dear Editor:

I would like to thank the Prowers County Commission, Planning Commission and Planning Staff for granting Iberdrola Renewables (Pacific Wind, LLC) a special use permit for our proposed Twin Buttes II wind energy generation project. This project would be located approximately 23 miles south of Lamar in the same general area as our Twin Buttes and co-owned Colorado Green projects. The Twin Buttes II project would be just east of State Highway 287. If this project is constructed on the approximately 11,000 acres for which we received a permit, it will be comprised of thirty-eight wind turbines, and the total project would have a generating capacity of seventy-six megawatts. Receiving the permit on March 31 was a major step in this project’s success, and I am appreciative of the support from Prowers County officials and its residents. I know the community will welcome the new jobs and economic development that would come with this new project, and we welcome the opportunity to, once again, do new business here.

As with any major power project development, there are still roadblocks that we will have to overcome prior to announcing that the project will definitely move forward.  Various teams of engineers are working diligently to ensure that the project can be accommodated safely on the electrical transmission grid system at Lamar.  Teams of biologists are also working to confirm that the project will have no detrimental impact to any sensitive wildlife species. While these issues could ultimately jeopardize the project’s success, Iberdrola Renewables’ attention to excellence in project design and operation and our commitment to sustainable, environmentally-responsible development give me confidence that we will be successful.  Should we succeed in overcoming the remaining obstacles, plans are to begin road construction in the fourth quarter of this year, and have the project complete around the first of 2017.

Once again, I would like to express my appreciation to the entire community. It is a pleasure to do business in Prowers County, and I look forward to continuing to build on our excellent relationship here.

Sincerely,
Mark Stacy
Director
Iberdrola Renewables, LLC –  Development
229 Stetson Drive, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82009