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*Pentagon withdraws objection to Oregon wind farm project; construction to
begin*

By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post staff writer
Saturday, May 1, 2010; A02

The Pentagon has withdrawn its objection to what promises to be the world's
largest wind farm, allowing for construction to move ahead on the Shepherds
Flat project<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/15/AR2010041503120.html>
in
Oregon.

Senior Defense Department officials called Oregon Democratic Sens. Ron
Wyden<http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/Ron_Wyden>
and Jeff Merkley <http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/Jeff_Merkley> on
Friday to say they will update the radar system near Fossil, Ore., so that
its operation would not be affected by the 338 turbines that will be
installed as part of the project. Both senators had lobbied fiercely for the
$2 billion project, which could generate 16,000 jobs nationwide, after the
Pentagon held up a permit that needs to be granted by the Federal Aviation
Administration.

Construction had been slated to begin Saturday.

"The bottom line for me is, had this not been worked out, blocking this
project would have chilled the entire opportunity to generate significant
new private investment in clean energy in this country," Wyden said. He
added that the resolution of the impasse "is showing that protecting America
in a dangerous world and shaking free our dependence on foreign oil are not
mutually exclusive. It's going to be possible to address both of these very
significant policy concerns."
--
Eric D. Schwerin
Rosemont Seneca Partners
(202) 333-1880
eschwerin@rosemontseneca.co