ALLETE to refurbish Oregon wind site

As a means of extending operating life, sustaining operating availability and requalifying for federal production tax credits, ALLETE Clean Energy is refurbishing its 50-megawatt Condon Wind facility in Oregon.

“We are pleased to advance our fleet-wide optimization strategy with the refurbishment initiative at Condon,” Laura Schauer, ALLETE Clean Energy Chief Financial Officer, said. “The project will position the site well for future power sales, extend the project’s operating life, sustain operating performance and produce income growth.”

Officials said the refurbishment, which is scheduled to be completed in 2019, would position the site for recontracting after the existing power sales agreement with Bonneville Power Administration expires in late 2022. The endeavor ensures the Condon facility will continue to deliver its sustainable energy supply and add future value to the Condon community.

The company is also refurbishing 385 turbines at sites in Lake Benton, Minn., and Storm Lake, Iowa, to improve turbine performance and reliability, generate federal production tax credits at each site and support the renewal of power sales agreements at Storm Lake.

ALLETE Clean Energy was established in 2011 by Duluth, Minnesota-based ALLETE Inc. to acquire or develop capital projects to create energy solutions by way of wind, solar, biomass, hydro, natural gas and other emerging innovations.