Wind could become major Utah power source

Within 20 years, the wind rustling across Utah's landscape may not be simply the lonely voice of nature. It may be a power source, turning turbines that could contribute 741 megawatts to the electrical grid, according to the U.S. Interior Department.

That would be nearly three times the amount of electricity presently generated by the breath of Mother Nature in this state, according to the "Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on Wind Energy Development on BLM-Administered Lands in the Western United States."

The report was released Tuesday by the Bureau of Land Management.

The Utah contribution pales in comparison with the 30,801 megawatts projected for 11 Western states.

One megawatt is enough electricity to supply 240 to 300 households for a year, according to the report.

A programmatic study differs from a site-specific examination because it looks at the overall impacts. When a project is proposed for a particular area, the larger study can be consulted.

"Our quality of life and our economic security are dependent on a stable and affordable supply" of abundant energy, Rebecca Watson, assistant secretary of the Interior Department for land and minerals management, said during a telephone press conference.

Interest in wind energy is picking up, she said.

"In the last 4 1/2 years, we've issued 74 permits" to develop the resource, she said.

She contrasted that with the record of the Bill Clinton presidency.

Over eight years, she said, "They issued only 13 wind permits."

A chart in the document shows non-BLM land in Utah hosts turbines generating 162 megawatts, while BLM holdings are responsible for 98 megawatts. In 20 years, the totals are projected to jump to 485 megawatts and 256 megawatts, respectively.

Utah BLM land doesn't have any actual production of wind power today, said Ray Brady, BLM group manager for land and realty.

Apparently, the chart indicates places where production would be possible by the end of the year.

"We have two authorized rights of way in Utah," he said. "These are (for) site testing and monitoring. We have one pending application in Utah."

Most of the new development would happen in California and Nevada, Watson said. The impact statement, a massive document posted on the Internet at windeis.anl.gov/documents/fpeis/index.cfm, examines the environmental, social and economic impacts of developing wind energy.

The statement will allow "the expedited permitting of wind energy in these 11 Western states," Watson said.