Going Green: Utah's First Wind Farm Takes Shape in Spanish Fork Canyon

Utah's first official wind farm is taking shape in Spanish Fork Canyon and when completely online in August, its nine wind towers will generate 18.9 megawatts of power daily—enough to supply Spanish Fork and possibly Mapleton.

David Anderson, Spanish Fork's planning director, says the wind farm project is being co-developed by Wasatch Wind, a Heber City-based company, and Edison Mission Energy, a subsidiary of Edison International, headquartered in Rosemead, California. The majority of the wind farm is on Spanish Fork City property and the city provided a financial incentive to give the project a boost on its financing.

The wind farm is unique in that it is confined to a small, 65-acre area in the perpetually windy Spanish Fork Canyon. The nine towers will only be spaced approximately 400 feet apart, while typical wind farms are located on windy ridges or flat areas with a mile or more between the rows of towers. Spanish Fork Canyon is a prime location for a wind farm because the wind can only blow one of two ways—up or down the canyon. What's more, the canyon's wind is generally steady and smooth. As such, it is much more conducive to wind generation than other gusty canyon winds, which put too much pressure on wind turbines.

While this is a small project in terms of power generation, local distribution will help make it economically sustainable. Anderson says Wasatch Wind has a 20-year contract to sell its power to Rocky Mountain Power. Spanish Fork City will not reap any immediate financial benefits for helping the wind farm become viable, but Anderson says the city will benefit indirectly because city leaders are interested in helping companies develop alternative sources of energy. (The city will receive property taxes from the wind farm for years 10-20.)

Wind energy is an especially encouraging resource because of its ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For a state that largely depends on power from coal, having a little green energy is a breath of fresh air.