The development of renewable energy and energy efficiency can do a great deal to benefit Oregon’s economy and delivers specific benefits to local businesses and residential utility customers. Encouraging the development of new renewable energy projects and energy efficiency programs translates to savings, tax income, and jobs now and for the future.

Wind projects, often located in rural areas, can be a much-needed shot in the arm to depressed local economies.

The construction of Stateline Wind Project, straddling the border between Oregon and Washington near Pendleton, created an average of 150 jobs during construction and will provide more than 15 full-time jobs through project operations. Oregon’s portion is 83 megawatts and 125 turbines, providing more than $190,000 in new income for local Oregon farmers and more than $750,000 per year in property taxes to Umatilla County.

The three wind projects currently operating in Oregon will generate more than $1.7 million in new tax revenues to rural counties and provide more than $388,000 in new income to support farmers and ranchers. Our energy dollars will stay local and support the environment.

Oregon industries and businesses have invested $100 million in renewable energy, avoiding as much as 472,000 tons of CO2 emissions and saving up to $20 million a year.

Almost 300 new solar energy systems were installed by Oregon households in 2000, saving $3.1 million in costs to extend power lines to these remote homeowners.

If Oregon had invested in energy conservation and renewables in the late 90’s as it did earlier in the decade, we would have saved enough energy to power a city the size of Bend, and prevented the expenditure of millions of dollars on high-cost electricity purchases.

Case Study:
The Royal Raymond Ranch,
Helix, Oregon

Wind energy facilities benefit both farmers and the local economy.

On line in 1998 and located in Umatilla County, Oregon, the 25 megawatt Vansycle Ridge Wind Farm is the first facility to generate electricity using wind in the Pacific Northwest. Twenty-eight of the 38 turbines used for this project were leased on the Royal Raymond family’s 4,000 acre wheat and cattle ranch near Helix.

While Raymond declined to give an exact figure they are receiving for leasing their land for wind development, he notes that “the income we receive from leasing amounts to considerably more than we could make off farming.” He confirmed that royalties are in the $1,500-2,000 per turbine range, which translates into at least $40,000 per year in extra income.

Raymond attests that the experience of having a wind operation on his ranch is positive. “The turbines are a clean energy source and they just use what’s going by,” he says. They also continue to farm as usual. “When it was finished, the actual acreage taken out of wheat production was quite small,” around 1/2 acre per turbine.

In addition to being a new source of revenue for farmers, the Vansycle plant also pays taxes to local governments. Annual property taxes of $244,000 have been used to support local services ranging from county government, to Helix schools, parks, and library and fire protection, to Blue Mountain Community College. Additional income taxes for the state of Oregon would also be generated.