A $400 million renewable energy project could begin construction next month and would power roughly a quarter-million Southern California homes.

The plan has received no criticism during a public-input phase that ends Oct. 6.

An open house Thursday in Milford introduced Beaver County residents to the plan that would put 159 wind turbines - each 262 feet tall - across 40-square miles on public and private land located 10 miles northeast of town.

"It will really put diversity in the energy mix," said Krista Kisch, a vice president for First Wind LLC, the San Diego-based company building the project. If built, it would become Utah's largest renewable energy project. Thursday's meeting sought to answer questions about the project and review the BLM's draft environmental assessment that found no significant impact.

Barring any significant problems, a permit could be issued for construction within 30 days. No construction schedule is set, Kisch said. BLM project manager Lucas Lucero said the project falls under his agency's newly created Wind Energy Policy designed to foster wind development in 11 Western states.

Each of the 159 turbines would generate power from a 328-feet diameter blade. The towers would deliver 300 megawatts - enough for 247,000 homes - of power through 85 miles of transmission lines an Intermountain Power Project substation in Delta, then on to Southern California.

The project would create 225 construction jobs and up to 15 full-time operation and maintenance jobs, Kisch said.

County officials expected the wind farm would bring in $1 million a year in taxes and other revenue.

Beaver County Commissioner Chad Johnson said the project comes as renewable energy forms gain more attention and would benefit his district.

"This [project] is significant in the assessed value and the permanent jobs it would bring," Johnson said. "It means production of good, green, cheap power."

Johnson's also not worried about the wind blowing.

"Milford was settled by people passing through who stopped to wait for the wind to stop blowing," Johnson quipped.

MILFORD WIND PROJECT

Location: Ten miles northeast of Milford in Beaver and Millard counties.

Size: 159 turbine towers standing 262 feet across 40 square miles.

Capacity: 300 megawatts of electricity. Enough to power 247,000 homes.

Delivery: 85 miles of transmission lines to Intermountain Power Project substation in Delta, then to Southern California.

Jobs: 225 construction jobs and 15 operation and maintenance jobs.
Cost: About $400 million.

Electronic copies of the environmental assessment can be obtained at: http://www.blm.gov/ut/enbb. Paper copies are available at BLM offices in Fillmore and Cedar City or public libraries in Delta and Milford.

Comments can be sent through Oct. 6 to T_Milford_Wind_Energy_Comments@blm.gov, or mailed to Lucas Lucero c/o BLM Field Office 176 E. DL Sargent(cq) Dr., Cedar City, UT 84721, or www.firstwind.com

Source: First Wind/BLM