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CNN Live At Daybreak

The Push for Wind Energy Production

Aired July 26, 2001 - 08:24   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: Our energy series now -- we've been looking at different power issues for all week and now we want to take a look at wind in Washington.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: That's right. Occasionally it's converted into energy. But in Walla Walla, Washington, that has become a critical part of their energy strategy.

And that is where we find CNN's Lilian Kim -- Lilian.

LILIAN KIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol and Colleen.

The sun is about to rise here in the Pacific Northwest and right now there is a nice and steady wind, strong enough to get these turbines going. This is the State Line Wind Project and when it's completed, it will be the largest wind farm in the west.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Twenty-nine revolutions per minute producing 660 kilowatts. Each turbine generating enough electricity for 150 homes. All it takes is a little wind.

COLLIE POWELL, FPL ENERGY: It becomes economically viable for - when about 30 to 35 or more percent of the year you get winds of about 17 miles per hour. Anything more is gravy.

KIM: It took only months to get the State Line Wind Project up and running. When it's all done, the wind farm will supply enough energy for 60,000 homes. On a good day, crews can put up as many as four wind turbines. Generators like these currently supply less than 1 percent of the nation's electricity. But with continued construction, the push is for wind energy to be a significant part of the power supply.

DAVE KVAMME, PACIFICORP POWER MARKETING: It's a renewable, clean resource and that's a very, very good thing. It diversifies the kinds of energy supplies that people are turning to in order to meet consumer demand.

KIM: The project is spread throughout 50 square miles of leased farmland, but the turbines take up only a fraction of that amount, allowing farmers to continue raising crops.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we'll get some money out of it, and we'll still have the land to leave to our heirs.

KIM: While leaving the region a bright future of clean energy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KIM: Wind farms like this one do receive their share of criticisms. Some say these turbines are eyesores. Others, meanwhile, say they are quite pretty, majestic and graceful. Either way, the push is on for more wind energy production.

Reporting live from the Washington-Oregon border near Walla Walla, I'm Lilian Kim -- Carol and Colleen, back to you.

MCEDWARDS: All right. Thanks very much, Lilian.

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