Washington Wind Farm Gets New Life, Powers 70,000 Homes

A wind farm that's been quietly powering Washington homes since 2006 just got a new lease on life, and it's great news for clean energy and local jobs.

Iberdrola, through its U.S. subsidiary Avangrid, signed a long-term power agreement with Puget Sound Energy to upgrade and extend operations at the Big Horn I wind farm in Klickitat County. The 199.5 megawatt facility generates enough renewable electricity to supply around 70,000 homes every year.

Instead of letting aging equipment slow down, Avangrid is investing in a complete repowering program. The upgrade will replace key components to extend the farm's operating life and boost performance for the next two decades.

The construction phase will create approximately 200 jobs, bringing economic benefits to the region while advancing clean energy goals. The upgraded facility is scheduled to come back online in 2028.

This deal marks another chapter in a growing partnership between Avangrid and Puget Sound Energy. The two companies have previously collaborated on the Golden Hills, Lund Hill, and Klondike III projects across the Pacific Northwest, representing more than 600 megawatts of combined renewable energy capacity.

The Ripple Effect: This project shows how smart investments in existing renewable infrastructure can deliver wins across the board. Instead of abandoning older wind farms, upgrading them keeps clean energy flowing, creates jobs, and avoids the waste of starting from scratch. It's a model that could breathe new life into aging renewable facilities across the country.

The Big Horn I upgrade represents a practical approach to expanding clean energy without always building new. By modernizing what's already working, energy companies can meet growing demand while maximizing resources already in place.

The partnership between these energy providers demonstrates how collaboration can accelerate the transition to renewable power. Their combined projects now represent a significant clean energy footprint across Washington and Oregon.

When the upgraded wind farm comes online in 2028, it will continue providing reliable, emission-free electricity to thousands of families while supporting local employment and economic growth in Klickitat County.

Sometimes the best way forward is making what we already have work better and last longer.