ECONOMIC BENEFITS
How much will be invested in the Region?
The Granite Mountain Wind Energy Project will be an investment of over $130,000,000 in the region.
What Tax Revenues will come from the project?
Over $6,500,000 in sales tax will be generated during construction of the project. On average, over $500,000 will be generated in property taxes every year for the life of the project.
What local jobs will the project create?
During construction, over 55 local construction jobs will be created. For the 25-30 year operating life of the project, 5 to 8 full time, permanent jobs will be created for a plant manager, wind turbine technicians and a project administrator to operate and maintain the project.
In addition, 7 to 12 permanent indirect jobs will be created by the project for local contractors and service providers.
How will the project bring revenues to the local community and what business will the project create for local companies?
During construction of the project, approximately $12,000,000 will be spent locally. The project will create business for local civil and electrical contractors, materials and equipment suppliers, security services, restaurants, lodging and gas stations.
During operation, over $700,000 will be spent every year during the 25-30 year life of the project. This will be spent on local salaries, local contractors, equipment rental suppliers, vehicle maintenance and parts suppliers, security services, restaurants, lodging and gas stations.
The project will provide a fixed-price, local source of energy to meet increased demand. In a region which has grown rapidly in the last few years, the project will provide a local, renewable energy source to meet increased demand. Under the contract the project has entered into to supply electricity to local supplier, Southern California Edison, the price of electricity is fixed and will be the same in 2030 as it is in 2010.
ENVIRONMENTIAL BENEFITS
The Granite Mountain Wind Energy Project will generate electricity without causing pollution:
Compared with the same amount of electricity produced by the mix of other generation resources in the region, the Granite Wind Energy Project will save the following amount of pollutants, every year:
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65,733 tons of Carbon Dioxide
49 tons of Sulfur Dioxide
82 tons of Nitrogen Oxides
The Granite Wind Energy Project Will Reduce Reliance on Oil, Coal and Natural Gas:
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Each 2.3 MW wind turbine will generate the equivalent amount of energy to that produced by 10,000 barrels of oil, every year or the equivalent of 27.4 barrels a day to supply each turbine ( and at oil prices of $100 per barrel, that would be worth $1,000,000 of oil each year for each turbine).
Each 2.3 MW wind turbine will generate the equivalent amount of energy to that produced by 3,071 tons of coal every year (equivalent to the coal contained in 307 10-ton coal trucks each year or almost one truck a day to supply each turbine.
The Granite Wind Energy Project will help Conserve Water:
The Granite Wind Energy project will generate electricity without using scarce water resources
Compared with the same amount of electricity produced by the mix of other generation resources in the region, the Granite Wind Energy Project will save 43,200,000 gallons of water every year.
The Granite Wind Energy Project will help California meet its Environmental Mandates:
The State of California is the 12th largest emitter of greenhouse gasses in the world
The Granite Wind Energy Project will contribute towards meeting California's greenhouse gas laws ( Assembly Bill 32 and Senate Bill 1368)
The Granite Wind Energy Project will count towards meeting California RPS laws which require retail sellers of electricity to obtain 20% of their supply from renewable energy sources by 2010 (Senate Bills 1078 and 107) with a goal of 33% by 2020.
Currently, 13.2% of electricity is provided state-wide by renewable energy sources, and a further 10,000 gigawatt hours or more is needed by 2010, equivalent to approximately 3,500 megawatts of new wind or solar projects, plus an additional 7,000 megawatts to meet the 2020 goal.
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
The Granite Wind Energy Project will comply with the requirements of the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and a joint Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report is being prepared for the Project.
What Environmental Studies have already been performed?
The following biological surveys have been completed:
Avian surveys have been taking place on site for the last 18 months
Regular point count surveys to determine bird use
Fall and spring migration surveys
Raptor nesting surveys
A Nexrad radar avian survey has been completed to determine night-time spring and fall migration over the site over the 5-year period from January 2002 - December 2006
Desert tortoise surveys were completed last Spring
General wildlife surveys have taken place at the same time as the avian point count surveys
What Environmental Studies will be performed?
The following additional surveys will be performed over the next few months:
Plant surveys (which could not be carried out last year due to lack of rainfall)
Bat surveys
Desert tortoise survey at the Johnson Road access route
Second year of Spring migration, point count and raptor nesting surveys
