Lyle Hagen

Lyle Hagen

Sequim-area ranch erects 100-foot wind turbine to produce own electricity

A wind-energy turbine — the first of its kind on the North Olympic Peninsula — was erected last week, towering 100 feet over its relatively small space on the sprawling Sequim Valley Ranch.

“It will turn all the power out for the maintenance facility here,” ranch manager Lyle Hagen said Friday as West Seattle Natural Energy owner Keith Hughes put finishing touches on the computer control panel installation at the base of the tower topped by a rotor blade of about 20 feet long.

Once the tower was erected using a large crane Thursday, it became a highly visible landmark from Schmuck Road and the grain and grass fields surrounding it north of Washington Harbor.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The 700-acre ranch northeast of Sequim, which sits in the grazing path of Sequim’s elk herd, is at

184 Coulter Road.

Hagen said the wind turbine is another step in “going green” at the ranch, which already is using biodiesel from used food oil it buys from Las Palomas Mexican Restaurant in Sequim, which makes for about 80 percent of the ranch’s fuel needs.

He said there are plans to grow vegetables that produce oil for making biodiesel, such as Jerusalem artichokes and radishes, at the ranch that grows timber for buildings on the ranch, and crops including wheat, grass hay, lavender and iris bulbs.

“We’re pretty excited about it,” Hagen said, preparing to barbecue elk burgers nearby for the ranch’s work crew of himself and four others, plus the wind turbine installation team of five.

Hagen declined to identify his boss. Stephen Clapp is listed as “governing person” of the ranch and Mark Anderson is named as the ranch’s agent in the Washington Secretary of State’s corporations records.

Hagen said it took eight months to deliver the foreign-made turbine, American-made tower and technical equipment that will allow the ranch to monitor the turbine’s speed and read weather data from a station at top.

The computer system relays weather information, wind speed and rotor revolutions per minute through a wireless system.

Added to that was the process to secure Clallam County permits.

“It’s the first one here, so the permit process was a challenge for the county,” Hagen said.

Hughes, whose company has been installing solar arrays for about four years, was marking the first time it had installed a wind turbine.

“It’s a very robust wind machine,” he said, with sophisticated system that can handle winds up to 72 mph, but is programmed to shut down at 60 mph should freak high winds off the Strait of Juan de Fuca blast through the area.

The winds will average output of about 11 kilowatts of power but the system is capable of producing up to 18 kilowatts maximum, Hughes said.

At 11 kilowatts, the turbine is capable of generating up to 13,500 kilowatt hours a year, which is equal to the amount of powering an average home and a half uses, he gave as an example.

The turbine was built by Gaia Wind of Denmark and the three-legged tower was built by Rohn Towers in Michigan, he said.

The three feet of the tower are each embedded on large concrete pillars atop a buried concrete 18- by18-foot foundation to a depth of six feet.

Such a wind turbine and tower system costs in the range of $140,000 and the owner receives the same 30 percent tax credit as solar arrays.

For every kilowatt generated, Hughes said, the Clallam County Public Utility District pays back 12 cents under the state rebate system.

“A production credit gets paid whether it’s used or not,” Hughes said.

“That makes it very viable.”

________

Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2390, extension 5052 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Mason Combs is 4 feet, 3 inches tall and has red hair, according to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office. (Clallam County Sheriff’s Office)
Child located after agencies partner on search

A 10-year-old boy who had been missing since Tuesday has… Continue reading

Sequim research lab testing ways to use seaweed, resources

PNNL is only Department of Energy lab with marine facilities

Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow visor, Sarah Maloy, left rear, Paulette De Llario, right rear, and Mary Claire Hunt, rear, helped clean up the Salish Coast Production Garden at the Salish Elementary School in Port Townsend on Saturday. The garden produced more than 5,000 pounds of produce used for the school lunches last year and farmers are aiming for 7,000 pounds in 2025. Hunt will be honored as a community health hero by the Jefferson County Public Health department for her efforts in bringing together farmers and gardeners who donate their crops to the Jefferson County food bank with a presentation on Thursday at the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Garden cleanup

Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow… Continue reading

Foundation purchases hospital equipment

Linear accelerator to be installed in May

Port Townsend updated on city’s workplan

Forty-five of 61 projects on track, city manager says

Welfare for Animals Guild receives $1,500 to provide spay and neuter services at the guild’s free veterinary clinics. Pictured, from left, are Laura Nieborsky, Barb Brabant, Emily Murphy and Mel Marshall.
Garden club makes donations through local grant program

The Port Angeles Garden Club has announced donations to… Continue reading

Facilities district for pool paused

Jefferson County does not receive grant

From left, Port Angeles school board members Sarah Methner, Mary Hebert, Stan Willams, Superintendent Marty Brewer, Kirsten Williams, Sandy Long and Nolan Duce, the district’s director of maintenance, turn the first shovel of dirt on Saturday at the location of the new construction just north of the present Stevens Middle School. An estimated crowd of 150 attended the ceremonial ground breaking. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles School District breaks ground at new middle school

Building is expected to open to students in 2027

Family displaced following house fire

A Clallam County family has been displaced due a… Continue reading

Two investigated for burglarizing home

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two individuals… Continue reading

Beach cleanups set for Earth Day weekend

Beach cleanups, a seed exchange, seed planting and music will mark Earth… Continue reading

Easter egg hunts scheduled for Saturday

Easter activities, including egg hunts and pictures with the Easter bunny, are… Continue reading