Spanish Fork tower erected to test for wind power

SPANISH FORK — A 272-foot-high tall wind tower could point the way for a new wind park.

Wasatch Wind of Heber City installed the tower made by IsoTruss Structures Inc. of Brigham City near the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon on Monday. Made from composite material that the manufacturer says is stronger than steel at a tenth the weight, the tower will measure wind speeds.

If the tests prove successful, Wasatch Wind plans on erecting several power-generating windmills next summer and fall, according to development manager Tracy Livingston. It would be the first wind farm in Utah and resemble one in Evanston, Wyo., Tracy earlier told the Spanish Fork City Council.

The tests are necessary to gain financial backing, Livingston said in a statement. Lenders require data from the top of the windmill hub to predict annual turbine revenues.

The City Council granted permission for the test several weeks ago and leased the city-owned land to Wasatch Wind. If the tests prove fruitful, city zoning rules governing what can be built in that part of the city would have to be changed before a wind farm could be constructed. Currently, wind farms aren't allowed anywhere in the city.

Tracy said the company is negotiating with PacifiCorp to buy the power under a 20-year contract. Although the late afternoon winds when the 1,500-kilowatt turbines would be pumping energy do not correspond with the peak demand period for energy use, off-peak, wind-generated power is needed and remains competitive in price with coal-generated power, Livingston said.

Earlier, he estimated the power would sell for 3.8 cents per kilowatt hour, compared to 4.5 cents per kilowatt hour at the recently completed $100 million regional natural gas and steam-fired power plant in Payson.

Spanish Fork residents will get the first opportunity to invest in the wind farm if it is built, Livingston told the City Council.

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