On October 8th as part of The Office of Sustainability’s ongoing Fall Sustainability series, students and staff- led by Amber Nicholson visited Puget Sound Energy’s Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility and Renewable Energy Center. Set high on a ridge 16 miles east of Ellensburg in Central Washington, the facility’s amenities include a 360 degree views of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Mount Hood, and the Columbia River Basin. The facility offers an up-close look at wind and sun’s tremendous opportunities for producing clean, renewable energy. Wild Horse is home to dozens of huge wind turbines , which have the capacity to generate up to a whopping 273 megawatts of electricity! Aside from these turbines, the solar-power installation, one of the Northwest’s largest, can generate up to 502 kilowatts of electricity. Puget Sound Energy’s Renewable Energy Center offers a first-hand look at how these elements are turned into electricity.
The tour lasted about an hour, and students were able to see firsthand the massive wind turbine blades, extensive 52 kw solar array, turbine generator, gearbox and an inside look inside the base of an active volcano.
Check out this YouTube video presented by PSE that shows some of the wind turbines in action!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K64hz4T
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Fall Sustainability Series Isn’t Over!
November 9: Plan Your Spring Garden hosted by Seattle Tilth
November 10: Bullitt Center/Theo Chocolates Field Trip
November 16: Cedar Grove Composting Tour Field Trip
November 23: “Plastic Paradise” Documentary Screening (D106)
November 29: “Gasland” Documentary Screening (D106)
VISIT: http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/sustainability/slider/field-trips-films-fun/
Last Updated November 3, 2016