Shiloh wind power plant

The Shiloh wind power plant is a wind farm located in the Montezuma Hills of Solano County, California, USA, close to Bird's Landing and Collinsville, 40 miles (64 km) northeast of San Francisco. It has a nameplate capacity of 505 megawatts (MW) of power and was built in four stages between 2005 and 2012. Several additional projects are also located in the Montezuma.

Shiloh wind power plant
Some of the 1.5 MW Phase I turbines stand 80 metres (260 ft) tall. The surrounding land is used for sheep grazing and growing hay.
Map
CountryUnited States
Coordinates38°6′32″N 121°50′42″W / 38.10889°N 121.84500°W / 38.10889; -121.84500
Construction beganAugust 2005[1]
Commission date
  • Apr 2006 (Phase I)[2]
  • Feb 2009 (Phase II)[3]
  • Sep 2011 (Phase III)[4]
  • Sep 2012 (Phase IV)[5]
Construction costUS$220,000,000 (equivalent to $332,500,000 in 2023) in 2006 (Phase I)[2]
Owners
  • Avangrid Renewables (Phase I)
  • EDF Renewables (Phases II–IV)
Wind farm
Hub height65 to 80 metres (213 to 262 ft)
Rotor diameter77 metres (253 ft)
Site area
  • 6,800 acres (2,800 ha) (Phase I)
  • 6,100 acres (2,500 ha) (Phase II)
  • 4,600 acres (1,900 ha) (Phase III)
  • ? (Phase IV)
Power generation
Units operational
  • 100 (Phase I)
  • 75 (Phase II)
  • 50 (Phase III)
  • 50 (Phase IV)
Nameplate capacity
  • 150 MW (Phase I)
  • 150 MW (Phase II)
  • 102.5 MW (Phase III)
  • 102.5 MW (Phase IV)
External links
Website
CommonsRelated media on Commons

Overview

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Plant Operator Nameplate Capacity (MW) Size (acres) Commissioned Cost (Millions $)
Shiloh I[6] Iberdrola 150 6,800[7] April 2006 279
Shiloh II[8] EDF Group 150 6,100 Jan 2009
Shiloh III[9] EDF Group 102.5 4,500[10] Dec 2011
Shiloh IV[11] EDF Group 102.5 3,102[12] Dec 2012
High Winds LLC[13] FPL 162 Dec 2003
EDF Renewables Windfarm V (Repower V Wind)[14] EDF Group 9 Mar 2006
FPL Energy Montezuma[15] NextEra 36.8 1,466[16] 2010
Montezuma Wind II[17] NextEra 78.2 2,539[18] 2011
Solano Wind[19] SMUD 230 5,400 2007, 2012
 
Aerial view (facing east)
 
Sheep graze near old and new turbines at Shiloh IV

Shiloh I

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PPM Energy acquired the project, which had already received all the required permits, from enXco in May 2005.[20] Construction started in August 2005 and completed in April 2006. The first phase of the wind farm consists of 100 GE 1.5 MW wind turbines.[21] They are spread across 6,800 acres (2,800 ha) of rolling hills and cost roughly US$220,000,000 (equivalent to $332,500,000 in 2023) to build.[2] The turbines are owned by Iberdrola Renewables (formerly known as PPM Energy) and the electricity is sold to Pacific Gas and Electric (75 MW), the Modesto Irrigation District (50 MW), and the City of Palo Alto (25 MW).[22][23]

The land for the turbines is leased from 26 local landowners, who continue to use it for sheep grazing and growing hay. Of the 100 turbines, 76 towers are 80 metres (260 ft) tall, and 24 towers are 65 metres (213 ft) tall. The turbine rotors have a diameter of 77 metres (253 ft) and rotate at a rate of 11–20 revolutions per minute.[1]

Shiloh II

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EnXco started commercial operation of the 150-megawatt Shiloh II wind farm in February 2009 on 6,100 acres (2,500 ha) of land.[3] The wind farm has 75 REpower MM92 turbines, each generating up to 2 megawatts. It produces enough energy for 74,000 homes. EnXco has a 20-year contract to sell the power to Pacific Gas and Electric Co.[24]

Shiloh III

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The Shiloh III project went online in early 2012 with fifty REpower 2.05 MW turbines, generating 102.5 MW.[4] The power is sold to Pacific Gas and Electric Company under a 20-year agreement.[25]

Shiloh IV

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Shiloh IV became operational in December 2012,[5] and like Shiloh III, consists of fifty REpower 2.05 MW turbines, generating 102.5 MW. The power is sold to Pacific Gas and Electric Company under a 25-year purchase agreement.[26] Shiloh IV involved removal of about 235 existing Kenetech 100 kW turbines, originally installed in 1989 with a capacity of 25 MW.[27] This wind farm has a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which allows for the death of 5 eagles per 5 years because of a collision with a turbine, without facing the penalties outlined by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The permit outlines the requirements of the project owner to minimize and offset those eagle deaths with the goal of no-net loss to the eagle population.[28]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Shiloh Wind Power Project – Fact Sheet" (PDF). Iberdrola Renewables. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Baker, David R. (November 16, 2006). "New windmills near delta fuel state's global warming fight". San Francisco Chronicle.
  3. ^ a b "enXco Dedicates the 150 MW Shiloh II Wind Project" (Press release). EDF renewable energy. 26 February 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  4. ^ a b "enXco Celebrates the Shiloh III Wind Project with a Blade Signing Ceremony" (Press release). EDF renewable energy. 15 September 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  5. ^ a b "EDF Renewable Energy Celebrates Shiloh IV Wind Project with Dedication and Blade Signing Ceremony" (Press release). EDF renewable energy. 15 September 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Shiloh I Wind". EDF Renewables North America. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  7. ^ "Shiloh Fact Sheet" (PDF). Avengrid Renewables. 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  8. ^ "Shiloh II Wind". EDF Renewables North America. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  9. ^ "Shiloh III Wind". EDF Renewables North America. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  10. ^ Ecology and Environment, Inc. (October 2010). "Final Environmental Impact Report Shiloh III Wind Energy Project". Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  11. ^ "Shiloh IV Wind". EDF Renewables North America. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  12. ^ Point Impact Analysis (November 30, 2011). "Shiloh IV Wind Energy Project Final Environmental Impact Report". p. 1-1. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  13. ^ FPL Energy (September 18, 2003). "FPL Energy and PPM Energy dedicate largest wind farm in California" (PDF). Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  14. ^ "Repower V Wind". EDF Renewables North America. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  15. ^ "Montezuma I & II Wind Energy Centers Fact Sheet" (PDF). Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  16. ^ "Amendment Final Environmental Impact Report Montezuma Wind Plant Project (U-06-06)". January 2010. p. 5. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  17. ^ "Montezuma I & II Wind Energy Centers Fact Sheet" (PDF). Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  18. ^ Point Impact Analysis, LLC (June 20, 2011). "Montezuma II Wind Energy Project Final Environmental Impact Report". Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  19. ^ Editor, Suwanee (May 10, 2012). "Utility Expands Solano Wind Turbine Project". Patch. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  20. ^ "PPM and enXco announce 150 MW Shiloh Wind Project" (Press release). AvanGrid Renewables. 23 May 2005. Retrieved 13 September 2006.
  21. ^ Mortenson Project Profile - Shiloh Wind Farm
  22. ^ "Two power contracts totaling 125 MW signed for PPM Energy's Shiloh Wind Project" (Press release). PPM Energy, Inc. July 7, 2005.
  23. ^ "PPM Energy sells out 150 MW Shiloh Wind Project" (Press release). PPM Energy, Inc. October 13, 2005.
  24. ^ Lamb, Celia (February 23, 2009). "EnXco turns on $300M wind farm". Sacramento Business Journal.
  25. ^ "enXco Announces Operation of 102.5 megawatt Shiloh 3 Wind Project" (Press release). Market Wired. January 19, 2012.
  26. ^ "EDF Renewable Energy Announces Operation and Financing of the Shiloh IV Wind Project" (Press release). EDF Renewable Energy. January 8, 2013.
  27. ^ "enXco signs Power Purchase Agreement for 100 MW Shiloh IV Wind Project". enXco (Press release). August 18, 2011.
  28. ^ Erdman, Shelby Lin (26 June 2014). "California wind farm not responsible if eagles fly into blades feds say". [CNN]. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
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