The 190 MW Desert Claim Wind Power Project in Kittitas County, Washington received approval from state regulators. As the project director, David Steeb initiated development in 2002 due to the location's high-quality wind resources and open land. He recognized the importance of the project's access to existing transmission lines. While permitting the 5,200 acre site, the developer addressed safety and noise concerns through setbacks and limits. The project received its Site Certification Agreement in 2010 after extensive review.

1. Desert Claim Wind Power
Photo simulation of Desert Claim
enXco Development Corporation’s 190 MW Desert Claim Wind Power Project received a
unanimous recommendation by the Washington state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council
(“EFSEC”) to Governor Gregiore who approved Desert Claim’s Site Certification Agreement
February 1, 2010.
As Project Director, David Steeb initiated development of Desert Claim in 2002 when Kittitas
County was selected as an ideal location for wind projects based on the county’s commercial
wind resource quality and large tracts of grazing land. By recognizing the importance of locating
Desert Claim with its onsite access to the multiple transmission lines of the Bonneville Power
Administration and Puget Sound Energy, the project benefits from being west of the Mid‐
Columbia market trading hub, thus eliminating critical and costly transmission delivery
problems and unknowns.
While permitting the 5,200 acre site, proactive development of the Safety Zone Setback to
address tower collapse and blade and ice throws; setting sound limits at the site boundary to
meet state night‐time residential requirements; reaching agreement with the 7 non‐
participating landowners within 2,500 feet of a turbine; and commissioning a detailed study
using local professors from Central Washington University to do a first‐of‐its‐kind, community‐
focused, economic benefits and jobs evaluation, all lead to the successful permitting of the
controversial project.

2. The Desert Claim Wind Power project received its Site Certification Agreement (“SCA”) from
Washington State in February 2010. This was the culmination of extensive public and agency
comment, land use proceedings, environmental studies and consultation, thoroughly reviewed
by EFSEC. The SCA is an all‐inclusive permit with EFSEC serving as the single point of contact for
mobilization, construction, commissioning, and throughout the operation of Desert Claim. The
complete SCA and environmental documentation, as well as studies and proceedings, can be
reviewed at EFSEC’s website under Desert Claim.
enXco Development Corporation
As Director of Business Development for the Pacific Northwest from
2001 to 2005, David Steeb launched enXco’s presence in the region. He developed their NW
pipeline strategy based on his knowledge of future regional energy needs and power markets
to secure land leases for over 1000 MW of potential wind projects across Washington, Oregon,
Idaho, Montana and Utah.
He was enXco’s representative to the Central Washington Resource Energy Collaborative, a
partnership between Kittitas County, Central Washington University, Puget Sound Energy,
enXco Development Corporation, and the Economic Development Group of Kittitas County. In
2009, this partnership formed an Innovation Partnership Zone program through the
Washington State Department of Commerce to attract and encourage renewable energy
research, workforce training, and companies to locate and create commercially viable products
and jobs in the county.