Portland General Electric Company (NYSE: POR) (PGE) is buying 76 turbines for phase one construction of its new 25,000-acre Biglow Canyon Wind Farm from Vestas Wind Systems of Denmark.

The massive turbines will each have the capacity to generate 1.65 megawatts (MW) of electricity, for a total of 125.4 MW – enough power to supply the needs of about 32,000 homes.

The Biglow Canyon project in Sherman County, Oregon was developed by Orion Energy and will be built, owned and operated by PGE.

“Wind power will be an increasingly important part of our portfolio in coming years, and Biglow Canyon Phase I will be a model for future developments. Vestas has an outstanding record of success and will help us assure that we’re off to a good start,” said Jim Lobdell, PGE’s vice president for power operations and resource strategy.

Vestas Wind Systems is a leader in the development, manufacture, sale, marketing and maintenance of wind power systems. It began manufacturing wind turbines in 1979, and has installed a total of 30,000 turbines in 50 countries.

PGE could ultimately construct between 350 and 450 MW of wind energy capacity at the Biglow Canyon site, which could produce enough electricity to power 100,000 homes. This would make it one of the largest wind power projects in the region. PGE proposes to construct the wind farm in three phases during a five-year timeframe.

A recent 8K filing suggested the overall dollar value for the project could reach $256 million.

PGE officials said the project fits well with what customers want and with the company’s goal to minimize energy price volatility by reducing exposure to fuel costs.

In combination with existing wind resources, this first phase of Biglow Canyon will allow PGE to offer its customers access to a total of 225 MW of wind energy capacity. PGE customers already receive 75 MW of wind capacity from PPM Energy’s Klondike II wind farm in Sherman County through a 30-year agreement that began last year, and 25 MW of wind capacity from the Vansycle Ridge wind farm in Umatilla County.

Completion of Biglow Canyon phase one is anticipated by December 2007. In combination with the Klondike II contract this will fulfill PGE’s 200 MW wind power target from the company’s 2002 Integrated Resource Plan.