Puget Sound Energy: 85% of damaged Wild Horse wind components removed; root‑cause analysis ongoing

Jennifer Galbraith, representing Puget Sound Energy, briefed the council on the Wild Horse Wind Facility. Galbraith said the removal work followed the facility’s Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures Plan and coordination with the Department of Ecology. “As of today, approximately 85% of the turbine components have been removed and transported off‑site for recycling or disposal,” she said, and the remaining components were scheduled for removal before December pending wind conditions. Puget Sound Energy is completing a root‑cause analysis into what caused the initial damage to the tower and will keep the council informed as cleanup activities are completed.

Council response: Chair Kurt Beckett asked whether there were questions. Councilor Barrett said he was "looking forward to the root cause analysis." There were no additional substantive council questions during the update; staff noted they would report further as the analysis and cleanup proceed.

Why it matters: The update documents decommissioning and disposal steps following structural damage at an operating wind facility and signals ongoing investigation into causes, environmental controls and remediation.

Next steps: Puget Sound Energy will finish component removal as weather and safety conditions allow and will provide the council with findings from its root‑cause analysis as they become available.