MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
June 21, 2019
Port contact: Ryan Hart, Chief External Affairs Officer, 360-518-2553 cell
Vestas contact: Chante Condit-Pottol, Communications Specialist, 503-708-6668 cell
PacifiCorp contact: PacifiCorp media hotline, 1-800-570-5838
Port of Vancouver USA to receive world’s largest shipment of wind turbine blades ever shipped on a single vessel
The blades from Vestas will boost capacity on existing turbines at Pacificorp’s Marengo Wind Project by more than 35 percent
VANCOUVER, Wash. – The Port of Vancouver USA is scheduled to receive the largest shipment of wind turnbine blades ever shipped on a single vessel. The ship, which is sailing from Taranto, Italy, is carrying 198 wind turbine blades that each measure 49 meters in length. The blades, manufactured by Vestas, are destined for PacifiCorp’s Marengo Wind Project near Dayton, Washington as part of a “repowering” project that adds larger blades and newer technology to substantially increase renewable energy output.
Crews will unload the blades using the port’s two Liebherr mobile harbor cranes. Once unloaded, waiting trucks will move the blades to a laydown area at the port’s Terminal 5. They will be trucked over the next three months to Dayton and staged for construction which will occur from July through October.
What: Offloading the largest shipment of wind turbine blades ever shipped on a single vessel – stacked five-high above deck, and three-high below deck
When: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Where: Meet at the port’s security gate, (2605 West 26th Avenue, Vancouver) to be escorted to the viewing site
Who: Commissioner Jerry Oliver, Port of Vancouver USA
Julianna Marler, CEO, Port of Vancouver USA
Chante Condit-Pottol, Communications Specialist, Vestas
Tim Hemstreet, Managing Director, Renewable Energy, PacifiCorp
Why: As part of its Energy Vision 2020 plan, PacifiCorp is increasing the wind energy it generates for its 1.9 million customers by more than 50 percent by repowering its existing wind fleet with new technology and bringing 1,100 MW of new clean wind energy projects online by end of year 2020. The Marengo Wind Project is part of a series of “repowering” projects that will update the company’s existing wind fleet to boost energy output while keeping costs low. The projects also support local economies and bring jobs and investment to rural communities.
Details: All media personnel will meet and check in at the port’s main security gate. Government issued photo ID is required. Port escorts will guide media through the terminal, to a parking and viewing location near the ship. Special parking will be set aside for news vans.
Please dress for the weather, and wear sturdy, comfortable shoes (full coverage). The port will provide hard hats and safety vests, which are required to be worn at all times.
About Port of Vancouver USA
The Port of Vancouver USA is one of the major ports on the Pacific Coast, and its competitive strengths include available land, versatile cargo handling capabilities, vast transportation networks, a skilled labor force and an exceptional level of service to its customers and community. For more information, please visit us at www.portvanusa.com.
About Vestas
Vestas is the energy industry’s global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We design, manufacture, install, and service wind turbines across the globe, and with more than 102 GW of wind turbines in 80 countries, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. Through our industry-leading smart data capabilities and unparalleled more than 87 GW of wind turbines under service, we use data to interpret, forecast, and exploit wind resources and deliver best-in-class wind power solutions. Together with our customers, Vestas’ more than 24,500 employees are bringing the world sustainable energy solutions to power a bright future. We invite you to learn more about Vestas by visiting our website at www.vestas.com.
About PacifiCorp
PacifiCorp is one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, serving more than 1.9 million customers in the West. PacifiCorp operates as Pacific Power in Oregon, Washington and California, and as Rocky Mountain Power in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. Visit www.pacificorp.com.