Puget Sound Energy Reports Wind Turbine Damage at Wild Horse Facility

The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (FSEC) convened on July 16, 2025, to discuss updates from various energy facilities across Washington. The meeting, held in Washington, included reports from representatives of several facilities, focusing on operational statuses and any significant incidents.

Jennifer Galbraith from Puget Sound Energy (PSE) provided the first update regarding the Wild Horse Wind Facility. She reported no non-routine issues for the June reporting period but highlighted a recent incident involving visible damage to a wind turbine tower. On July 10, PSE was alerted to a crack above the flange of the first tower section. In response, the turbine was de-energized, and the site was temporarily closed to public access. Emergency responders from Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue were dispatched to assess the situation, and security measures were enhanced at the facility. PSE is currently working with the turbine manufacturer to analyze options for safely decommissioning the damaged tower and will keep the council informed of developments.

Following the Wild Horse update, Sarah Randolph provided a report on the Chehalis Generation Facility, confirming that there were no non-routine updates to report. This was echoed by representatives from the Grays Harbor Energy Center and Columbia Solar, who also stated that their facilities had no significant issues to discuss for the month of June.

Josh LaPorte reported on the Columbia Generating Station, indicating that there were no non-routine updates for the month. Nelson Jia then provided an update for Goose Prairie, noting strong generation performance with nearly 25 gigawatt hours produced in June. He mentioned ongoing issues with AC breaker replacements for inverters but confirmed no significant environmental or safety compliance issues.

Lastly, John Volts from Cypress Creek Renewables reported on the Austria Solar project, stating that construction is progressing well, with roads completed for the construction phase.

The meeting concluded with no further questions or comments from the council members, and the representatives confirmed that their updates were complete. The council will continue to monitor the situations at these facilities and expects to receive further updates in future meetings.