Saddle Mountain to be home for wind turbines
Candice Boutilier/Columbia Basin Herald<br> Project Manager Elon Hasson introduced the wind turbine project coming to Othello.
OTHELLO — A wind turbine project is locating to Saddle Mountain near Othello this summer.
Horizon Wind Energy is installing at least 32 wind turbines on Saddle Mountain, Project Manager Elon Hasson told the Othello City Council during their last meeting.
Horizon Wind Energy is the third largest developer of wind power in the nation and are located in several states.
The project will provide jobs, generate tax revenue, promote rural economic development, preserve family farms and ranches and is environmentally sound, he said.
The project to be located on Saddle Mountain and is roughly in the area of state Route 24, Bench Road and Kuhn Road and will be visible from Othello, Hasson said. The project construction begins this summer and should take at least six months to complete.
The project will include roadway improvements to ensure the heavy equipment can be transported to the project site, he said. The wind farm will have turbines, meteorological towers measuring wind, a substation to move the power and a maintenance and operations building.
He said the project is relatively simple with minimal impacts to the environment and surrounding area. Hasson explained Horizon is committed to protecting wetlands, natural habitat and disrupting as little land as possible. The majority of Horizon wind farms use about 1 to 3 percent of the land set aside for the project. The Saddle Mountain project is primarily ranching and orchard land, he added.
Hasson explained the project requires at least 120 people to build, providing a boost to Othello’s economy.
He said those workers need hotel accommodations, meals and equipment and supplies tend to be bought locally when they are available.
Once the project is complete it will be staffed by six to eight people.
Councilmember Marc Spohr said there are usually fires on Saddle Mountain and asked what is done in case of a fire threatening the project.
Hasson said there is access to the project and it is staffed at all times. In case of a fire or any other emergency, it will be reported immediately. The roads throughout the project act as a fire break, he added.