Project Description
RGI was contracted to provide geotechnical engineering services to what was the largest wind project in the Pacific Northwest, ultimately producing over 1,400 megawatts of energy. This seven phase project will include 690 wind turbines across Garfield and Columbia Counties. RGI completed the first phase of this project and performed over 170 borings and test pits to characterize soil conditions. As part of the geotechnical engineering for the second phase, RGI completed 145 borings in 15 days over 5 weeks. Recommendations were prepared and a draft report was submitted 10 days after the drilling was completed. The variable soil conditions for the second phase, include basalt in the northern portion of the site and deep silt on the southern portion of the site. Such conditions have made foundation and roadway development a challenge for the design team throughout the project. RGI continued to offer feasible alternatives to turbine foundation design and subgrade preparation complicated by the site grading and a change in the turbine foundation numbering. A total of 116 Siemens SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines, rated at 2.3MW each, were installed at the 20,000 acre project site. The project enables PGE to meet Oregon’s renewable energy standards, which require to supply 20% of the power the company delivers to its customers from renewable sources by 2020 and 25% by 2025.
Scope of Work
Geotechnical Construction Monitoring, Foundation Overexcavations, Third Party Reviews, Contruction of Modular Block, Geotechnical Engineering Reports, Foundation Design Recommendations, Foundation Subgrade Preparation, Site Preparations & Grading, Rocky Quality for the Quarry Sites, Field Explorations, Laboratory Testing.
