Wind farm work expected in 2010

ELY — Construction of White Pine County’s first commercial wind turbine farm could begin as early as next summer and bring up to 200 workers to the rural area, project officials said.

Pattern Energy, the Houston-based developer, is hoping to start construction of a 160-megawatt wind farm in Spring Valley next summer or early fall. The project could be completed by the second quarter of 2011, according to Wells McGiffert, the Bureau of Land Management’s renewable energy project manager in Ely.

The company hired international contractor Mortenson Construction to assemble the 66 or so turbines.

While the influx of 150 to 200 construction workers from outside the area could provide a boost to the county’s food and lodging sector, McGiffert said the BLM is working to create short-term opportunities for county residents as well.

McGiffert told county commissioners this month that the agency encouraging the developer to hire local workers.

Pattern Energy was formed in June, when a private equity firm, Riverstone Holdings LLC, bought the energy portfolio of Babcock & Brown’s North American Energy Group.

Despite the change of management, the right-of-way grant for the proposal remains the same. The project covers roughly 8,600 acres of BLM-administered lands between State Route 893 and U.S. Highway 50 as it veers north toward Sacramento Pass.

During the construction phase, just under 10 percent of that land would be disturbed. Over the long term, though, the project’s footprint would shrink to 1 percent to 3 percent of the land, McGiffert said.

If the bureau signs off on the lease, the agreement would cover a 30-year period.

At least 25 percent of lease money could stay within the county, pending the passage of federal legislation.

McGiffert said Nevada’s two U.S. senators are working to split revenues from renewable energy project leases among the BLM, the state and local government entities.

The Spring Valley project could be the first of many renewable energy projects in the area. The BLM said its Ely office has received applications for 17 wind projects, most planned for White Pine County.