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In an apparent effort to calm controversy and questions of uncertainty over Kenetech's proposed 31.5 MW project in the Columbia Hills in Washington state, Portland General Electric (PGE) says it is still negotiating with the California wind company. The project is a joint venture with PacifiCorp, with plans for it to be on-line this autumn. In February, PGE had emphasised that it was pulling out of 40% turn-key ownership of the delayed project, primarily over the issue of avian mortality (“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç, March 1996). But in mid March, PGE's Roxanne Bailey stressed that negotiations were continuing although it was not clear whether the utility would seek a power purchase agreement, return to partial ownership or choose some other possibility. "The project continues to move forwardÉ we're looking to keep this on track for a fall start-up," she said. Bailey added that PGE was negotiating with both technical people and executives at Kenetech to attempt to reach a compromise.