PROJECT SUMMARY
In December 2010, the Department of Energy issued a $1.3 billion partial loan guarantee under the Financial Institution Partnership Program (FIPP) to finance Shepherds Flat, an 845-MW wind power generation project located in eastern Oregon. It reached full commercial operations in November 2012.
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION
Shepherds Flat introduces proven commercial wind turbine technology from abroad to the United States. The technology in use at Shepherds Flat has already successfully recorded nearly 1.4 million operating hours at many commercial projects worldwide, but had not previously been in use domestically. Shepherds Flat is one of the world’s largest wind farms, proving that onshore wind energy projects can be deployed in the U.S. at large scale.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Shepherds Flat created 400 construction jobs and is expected to support 45 permanent jobs.
CLIMATE BENEFIT
Shepherds Flat is expected to generate 1,800,000 megawatt-hours of clean energy each year. It is expected to prevent 1,000,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
PROJECT SUMMARY | Owner | Caithness Energy LLC |
|---|---|---|
| Locations | Gilliam County & Morrow County, Oregon | |
| FINANCIAL SUMMARY | Loan Program | Title XVII |
| Loan Type | Partial Loan Guarantee | |
| Loan Amount 1 | $1.3 Billion | |
| Issuance Date | December 2010 | |
| ENERGY SUMMARY | Operation Status | Operating |
| Generation Capacity | 845 MW | |
| Projected Annual Generation 2 | 1,800,000 MWh | |
| ECONOMIC IMPACT | Permanent U.S. Jobs Supported | 45 |
| U.S. Construction Jobs Supported 3 | 400 | |
| CLIMATE BENEFIT | CO2 Emissions Prevented Annually | 1,000,000 Metric Tons |
| NOTES | All information up-to-date as of Juner 2017. 1 Approximate amount of the loan facility approved at closing including principal and any capitalized interest. 2 Calculated using the project's and NREL Technology specific capacity factors. For cases in which NREL's capacity factors do not encompass project's specific design and operation, project specific capacity factors are used. 3 Estimated at the time of closing. | |
PROJECT PHOTOS
All photos courtesy of Caithness Energy LLC
