Shepherds Flat Wind Farm

Key characteristics

Shepherds Flat is a large-scale collection of wind turbines tied to the regional transmission grid. Its primary attributes include:

• Installed nameplate capacity: 845 MW (project summary).
• Geographic siting across multiple rural parcels to capture steady winds common to the Columbia Plateau area.
• Electrical interconnection and supporting infrastructure built to deliver power into the regional market.

History and development

Planning and permitting for the project proceeded in the late 2000s. Groundbreaking occurred in 2009, followed by staged construction of turbine foundations, roads, and electrical systems. The wind farm reached commercial operation in September 2012. Its development reflected broader growth in U.S. wind capacity driven by state renewable targets and improving turbine technology.

Uses and significance

The facility generates wholesale electricity for utilities and other purchasers, contributing renewable energy to the grid and supporting state and regional clean-energy goals. Large projects like Shepherds Flat also create local construction and maintenance jobs during build-out and operations, and provide lease income to landowners.

Environmental and local considerations

As with other wind farms, Shepherds Flat prompted review of siting impacts such as land use, habitat, and bird and bat interactions. Mitigation measures, monitoring, and coordination with local agencies are typical features of project operation. The site’s location on working agricultural lands aimed to balance energy production with ongoing land uses.

Notable facts and distinctions

At opening it was notable for its large installed capacity and for demonstrating the feasibility of very large onshore projects in a rural setting. The project is often cited in discussions about scaling renewable generation and integrating wind energy into regional power systems. For more detailed technical or historical information see the project pages and local county records: project summary, state energy resources, and county planning sources in Gilliam and Morrow.