3/26/09 Prineville
 
by Ariel Wesler
 
 
The Crook County Planning Commission voted unanimously Wednesday night to approve a 5800 acre wind power facility in southern Crook County. California-based West Butte Wind Power,LLC proposed the project, including up to 52 turbines.
 
“It's going to bring a lot of jobs during construction, probably up to 100 jobs for eight months and during operations, 8 to 10 permanent jobs for 30 years,” said John Stahl, Managing partner of West Butte Wind Power.
 
But the area is also home to sage grouse, a type of bird, wildlife experts say are commonly found throughout Central and Eastern Oregon.
 
“The concern has to do with the heighth of the turbines, the noise that would be associated with it. The disturbance that would be associated with traffic going in and out,” said ODFW Wildlife Biologist Brian Ferry.
 
Biologists from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recommended the county require a three-mile set back from the nesting habitat. Commissioners felt it would ruin the project.
 
“We have a quarter mile separation. We feel our quarter mile will accomplish it, but we are trying to accommodate a mitigation plan,” said Crook Co. Planning Director Bill Zelenka.
 
Commissioners want to put together a technical advisory committee made up of ODFW, BLM, and other environmental organizations to help create a comprehensive set of conditions the power company must follow. At this point, construction on the project is scheduled to start in spring of 2010.
 
The power company must still get its access road approved from blm and deschutes county along with a final layout of how many turbines and where they will be installed.