Pacific Power to repower Marengo wind turbines

DAYTON—PacifiCorp, a division of Pacific power, plans upgrades to its existing wind fleet by 2020. Upgrades will include installing larger blades and newer technology in order to increase power production by 20%.

Tom Gauntt Communications Representative for PacifiCorp said plans are in the works to repower the wind turbines at two sites in Marengo, in 2018-19.

Gauntt said the existing wind turbine blades have a 240 ft. span, and, due to the increased length of the new ones, even longer trailers will be needed to transport them to the work site.

“It is quite a deal,” said Gauntt.

“It will be like changing a tire,” he said about the process for removing the existing blades, installing the new ones, along with a new power generating mechanism.

There are 78 wind turbines at Marengo I, and 39 at Marengo II, and it has been eight to 10 years since they were installed Gauntt said.