Blades now on 37 towers: Turbine project advances to Steam Shovel Hill

High winds Tuesday afternoon provided Avista with 30 megawatts of electricity off the Palouse Wind farm on Naff Ridge.

Ben Fairbanks, western region business development manager for Palouse Wind’s parent company First Wind, said 20 turbines were operating Tuesday and generating electricity.

“Everything seems to be going pretty good,” said Fairbanks.

That electricity is test power, and is sold separate from the long-term contract Palouse Wind has signed with Avista.

In all, the wind farm has 37 towers built with blades installed on the Naff Ridge portion of the wind farm.

The project’s massive...