SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, July 31, 2019
New windfarm construction
begins December
300 workers expected at peak
Representatives of the new windfarm coming to Morrow County attended a meeting with local
people last week. (L-R): Scott Elliott, wind asset manager with Portland General Electric which
is partnering on the project; WCVEDG, sponsor of the meeting, Executive Director Sheryll
Bates and Nextera project managers Alyssa Kruger and Keleigh Wright.
By David Sykes
Construction on a new
windfarm in Morrow Coun-
ty is expected to start in
December and will see 300
workers on the project at its
peak, representatives of the
company behind the project
said last week. Project man-
agers from Nextera Energy
were in Heppner to brief lo-
cals on what to expect when
construction gets underway.
Construction will last until
October of 2020.
First phase of the
Wheatridge Energy project
will be installing 292 wind
turbines from north of Ione
over by Butter Creek and
into Umatilla County. Start-
ing in February of next year
a 150 MW solar farm will
also be built and 100 work-
ers will be on the site then.
The windfarm will employ
eight when completed and
the solar farm between
three and four.
There are two parts to
the project. Wheatridge
West is located in Morrow
County and Wheatridge
East is located in Umatilla
County.
The entire project will
span 14,624 acres and was
originally designed to have
a large battery storage fa-
cility included, however
that has been changed to
have battery storage as part
of the tower design. The
company also increased
the blade length from the
original plan, which will up
the electrical output from
each tower.
One concern of lo-
cal people who came to
the Willow Creek Valley
Economic Development
Group-sponsored meet-
ing, was how to get the
workers to spend money
locally while here on the
project. Project managers
said Nextera, one of the
largest renewable energy
companies in the world,
does not do the construction
itself but has a couple of
companies it works with.
They said the construction
companies will bring in ev-
erything, including trailers
for their workers to live in.
Project Manager Alyssa
Kruger said she is asking
now for an inventory of all
the available RV camping
sites in the county where
workers may be able to
stay during construction.
She said based on other
projects she has worked on;
construction can be an eco-
nomic boon for the county
if they can get the workers
to spend locally. She said
the company wants to do
everything they can to help
accomplish that.
The solar project will
be about 1,000 acres and
is located on Strawberry
Rd. along Highway 207.
Construction on that project
will be from February until
November of 2021. The
project is a joint venture be-
tween Nextera and Portland A new windfarm being constructed in Morrow County will stretch from Lexington north.
General Electric which will
ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE:
initially buy a large portion
of the output to meet its
green energy requirements.
MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M.
Sheriff’s Report
The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office has released the following information:
April 25 (cont.): Mor- Restaurant on First St NW, port on SE Utah Ave, Irri-
row County Sheriff’s Office Boardman that a male and gon that a white Honda is
received a report on NW female are fighting. Fe- speeding from Tenth.
Jones St, Heppner that two male yelling at male to quit
-MCSO received a re-
juveniles keep harassing and someone being thrown port on SE Utah Ave, Ir-
RP’s dogs.
against the wall.
rigon that there is a Ford
-MCSO received a re-
-MCSO received a re- pickup flatbed in the right
port at Kunze Ln/Peters port at Miller Rd/Kunze of way. Contact was made
Rd, Boardman of a person Ln, Boardman of cattle in and individuals will move
on an ATV with a toddler the road. Unable to locate. the vehicle.
on the back with no helmet
-MCSO received a re-
April 26: Morrow port on Pioneer Ln, Board-
on. Unable to locate.
-MCSO received a re- County Sheriff ’s Office man that someone hit their
port at AC Houghton on NE received a report at Love’s fence three weeks ago and
Main Ave, Irrigon that two Travel Stop on Tower Rd, advised he would come
dogs jumped the fence and Boardman that male ad- and fix the fence but hasn’t
proceeded to harass him vised he is working and is showed up. Civil problem.
and his wife. Owner was having issues with his sis-
-MCSO received a re-
advised to keep their dog ter. Deputy provided female port on Washington Ln,
a ride to Boardman.
in the yard.
Irrigon that RP has been out
-MCSO received a re- of town for two weeks and
-MCSO received a re-
port at Bob Kilkenny field, port on SE Fourth St, Irri- came home and is missing
Heppner that a 28-year-old gon that her ex is trying to irrigation sprinklers high
female fell and possibly take their daughter out of rise heads, vandalism and
broke her ankle. Trans- the state without her per- items take out of barn.
mission.
ported.
-MCSO received a re-
-MCSO received a re- port on SE Utah Ave, Irri-
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Ir- port on I 84 E, Boardman gon that there is a vehicle
rigon that a Honda Civic that a blue Honda van with playing music real loud.
went at a high rate of speed Idaho plates is passing peo- Unable to locate.
ple and going off the road.
toward Tenth.
-MCSO received a re-
-MCSO received a re- Vehicle located.
port of a purse found in
-MCSO received a re- Spray, OR. Property will be
port at Knight’s Inn/Village
mailed to owner.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE third St, Irrigon
that there is a party next
door with loud music.
-MCSO received a re-
port on I 84 W, Boardman
of a dark gray Ford Excur-
sion unable to maintain
lane.
April 27: Morrow
County Sheriff’s Office re-
ceived a report on SE Utah
Ave, Irrigon that his friend
said he was going to kill
himself, is having a hard
time breathing and cannot
move, advised he took pills.
Transported to GSH.
-MCSO received a re-
port at NE Twelfth St/NE
Washington Ave, Irrigon
that early 2000 white Chevy
shot into a ditch and almost
flipped.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Love’s Travel Stop
on Tower Rd, Boardman
that a driver came into
Loves and has alcohol on
his breath, is fueling his
truck now. Unable to locate.
-MCSO received a re-
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port on I 84 E, Boardman
that a black Lexus is going
at least 100 mph. Unable
to locate.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Ir-
rigon that a vehicle was
parked across the street and
when neighbor drove off it
pulled into his driveway. RP
found this suspicious.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Sinclair Station on
Nain St N, Boardman of 81
male with a possible stroke.
Patient transported to GSH.
-MCSO received a re-
port on SE Utah Ave, Ir-
rigon that a bigger white
box car sped down toward
Tenth.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Linden Way, Hep-
pner of two juveniles play-
ing in the road. Parents have
collected the children out
of the rd.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Hwy 730, Irrigon
that a red Toyota is parked
on the hill with emergency
flashers on.
-MCSO received a
report at Riverview Mo-
bile Court on E Hwy 730,
Irrigon of a lift assist of
67-year-old female. Patient
refusal.
-MCSO received a re-
port at MCSO that fiber was
cut in the Spray area and
people may have trouble
calling 911.
-MCSO received a re-
port at Willow Creek Res-
ervoir, Willow Creek Rd,
Heppner of a loose dog.
Under investigation.
-MCSO received a re-
port on Toms Camp Rd,
Boardman that her daugh-
ter is fighting with RP’s
husband. Dputy made con-
tact with juvenile, they are
continuing to work with a
counselor.
Heppner's First Friday
August 2nd
We will be serving up tasty
Hand-Dipped Corn Dogs
Elephant Ears
&
More!