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EWEB BREAKS GROUND ON FIRST MAJOR WIND PROJECT IN NORTHWEST -- WORKS FOR CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY GOALS

Arlington, Wyoming -- Eugene Water & Electric Board broke ground today on the first major wind energy site in the Northwest. Within two years, sixty nine sets of blades will produce clean, renewable power from the remote site in southeastern Wyoming. The project, co-owned by PacifiCorp, is intended to determine the viability of renewable energy projects in the region.

"EWEB's commitment to renewable resources and this particular project is strong and long- standing," says EWEB Board President Dorothy Anderson. "The Wyoming Wind Project is an excellent example of the type of environmentally sound energy sources our customers have told us they want us to invest in."

EWEB and PacifiCorp's Wyoming wind energy will be generated by 69 machines similar to the Mitsubishi wind machines shown here.

Construction is underway at the site; today crews are pouring concrete for the immense concrete pads which provide a level base for the wind machines. The project site on Foote Creek Rim near Arlington, Wyoming was carefully chosen and is considered to be one of the premier wind energy development sites in the United States, with average wind speeds of approximately 24 miles per hour.

The project includes 69 600-kilowatt wind machines, a new substation and approximately 28 miles of transmission line. When completed in late 1998 or early 1999, the Wyoming Wind Project will produce 41.4 megawatts. EWEB will market about 6.5 MW to its customers and will sell 2.3 MW to Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). BPA will purchase another 13 MW of the output, and PacifiCorp will market the remainder.

"We are committed to seeing this project succeed, not just for the benefit of EWEB customers, but for all of those who will undoubtedly benefit in the future, when clean wind power is commonplace," says Randy Berggren, EWEB General Manager.

Of the many generation sources for energy, wind is considered one of the most environmentally benign. The only environmental concern around wind generation is its potential impact on birds.

The Wyoming Wind project has received all the necessary permits and was carefully designed to minimize impact on birdlife. For example, wind machines were moved away from the bluff's rim, where raptor use is highest; access ladders are placed on the interior of the units to eliminate exterior bird perches; and turbines and rotors are reflectively coated to increase visibility for birds.

The project is being jointly developed for the utilities by SeaWest Energy Corporation of California and Tomen Power Corporation.

Purpose:	To determine the viability of wind energy in the Northwest
Location:	Foote Creek Rim, in southeast Wyoming between Rawlins and Laramie, Carbon County, WY
Wind Speed at Site:	Average annual speed of 24 mph
Size:	69 Mitsubishi windmachines, 600 kilowatts (kW) each Project total is 41.4 megawatts (MW)
Project Components:	Sixty nine 600 kW turbine-wind machines and foundations Substation 28 miles of 235 kv transmission line to connect to existing PacifiCorp transmission system
Owners:	Eugene Water & Electric Board - 21.21% ownership (8.78 MW) PacifiCorp - 78.79% ownership (32.62 MW)
Developer:	ToyoWest Wyoming L.L.C. (subsidiary of SeaWest Energy Corp. and Tomen Power Corporation)
Project Cost:	The total project cost is estimated to be $62.3 million with EWEB's share being $13.2 million (in 1999 dollars). Final payment is to be made by the owners to SeaWest upon completion of the windplant portion of the project. EWEB and PacifiCorp are responsible for the construction of the transmission line and the substation.
Operator:	SeaWest Wyoming L.L.C. (subsidiary of SeaWest Energy Corp.)
Maintenance & Service:	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) will enter into a 10-year maintenance and service agreement with SeaWest Wyoming L.L.C.
Power Purchaser:	BPA will purchase 15.32 MW of project output (13.04 from PacifiCorp and 2.28 from EWEB)
Permits:	The Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Project is complete and an affirmative Record of Decision was issued by the Bureau of Land Management in mid-July 1997. Other state and local permits have been obtained.
Estimated Capacity Factor:	42.6%
Estimated Output:	Total project: 155,000,000 kwh/year EWEB portion (not including BPA portion): 24,200,000 kwh/year
Construction Begins:	August 1997 with roads and construction of cement foundations for turbines
Projected Completion Date:	Late 1998 or early 1999
FinalAgreements:	Signed in July 1997 by EWEB, PacifiCorp, Bonneville Power Administration, SeaWest Energy Corporation of California and Tomen Power Corporation