Iberdrola Renewables, FirstEnergy Solutions, the PA Energy Development Authority and Gov. Rendell this week dedicated Pennsylvania's newest wind energy projectthat has transformed a former surface coal mine in Somerset County into a source of clean, renewable energy that will protect the environment and benefit Pennsylvania's consumers and economy.

"We are changing the way electricity is produced and consumed in Pennsylvania by developing renewable and alternative energy sources and implementing advanced energy efficiency and conservation technologies," Gov. Rendell said as he visited the Casselman Wind Power Project, developed by Iberdrola Renewables.

"The demand for wind power is growing across Pennsylvania and the nation because it's an alternative source of energy from a domestic resource that can be produced at a stable, competitive price," said Gov. Rendell."The Casselman Wind Power Project will provide clean energy without emitting any greenhouse gases and without using imported fuels. Pennsylvania is moving toward energy independence while providing better protection for our natural resources."

The 23 wind turbines at the Casselman Wind Power Project will produce enough clean energy to meet the equivalent needs of more than 10,000 homes annually, although the power will be sold to commercial and industrial consumers through FirstEnergy Solutions.

The utility signed a 23-year agreement to purchase the power generated by the wind farm. Such power purchase agreements are essential tools to reduce project financing costs and ultimately keep costs lower for power consumers.

About one-third of the wind farm is located on a reclaimed surface coal mine. The Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority invested $500,000 in 2006 to rehabilitate the former mine site, which helped to offset the increased costs and foregone revenues associated with using this environmentally scarred land. The nature of soils at previously mined areas require higher than normal construction costs and this former mine site is at a lower elevation, making the turbines less productive.

Iberdrola has taken additional steps to protect the environment with help from Department of Environmental Protection for a study of bat mortality that was conducted at the site by the Bats and Wind Energy Cooperative. The study, partially funded by DEP, tested the effect of stopping wind turbines during low-wind conditions, when bats are most active.

The study, the first of its kind in the U.S., will also examine the value of lost electricity sales due to the temporary shutdowns. The final report is anticipated for public distribution by April 1.

"Purchasing the renewable power generated at Casselman is part of FirstEnergy's commitment to protecting the environment while meeting our customers' needs for reliable and affordable electricity," said Gary Leidich, executive vice president, FirstEnergy, and president, FirstEnergy Generation.

Creative land use is not the only innovation at Casselman. Project developerIberdrolaRenewablesis hosting a groundbreaking wildlife study on the interaction between bats and wind turbines.

From late July to mid-September,IberdrolaRenewables,working with independent scientists from Bat Conservation International, conducted a controlled experiment in which selected wind turbines were stopped during certain wind conditions. This represents the first U.S.-based effort to study the effects of shutting down turbines on reducing bat deaths.

"For the re-use of the coal mine and the wildlife study, we are proud of the industry efforts represented at the Casselman Wind Power Project," said Don Furman, senior vice president for Development, Transmission, and Policy,IberdrolaRenewables."We are committed to setting a high standard in the industry for conserving land and protecting wildlife."

The partnership with independent scientists was particularly important for the study at Casselman.

"Together, the industry, agencies, conservation groups and scientists can find solutions that will protect wildlife.IberdrolaRenewablesdeserves considerable credit for hosting and supporting this critical experiment," said Ed Arnett, Ph.D., conservation scientist, Bat Conservation International.

"Alternative energy will continue to play a vital and growing role in the energy policy of the United States," said Somerset County Commissioner Jim Marker. "Somerset County continues to be a major component of the wind industry in Pennsylvania, and we are proud to welcome the Casselman project to our community."

"The prospect of a wind power project was a new experience for this community when it was first proposed, but the long legacy of energy production in this area and in our family was immediately appealing.

The entire project team fromIberdrolaRenewables, from development to construction, quickly erased any skepticism with their knowledge, professionalism and responsiveness," said Judy Pletcher, who is a landowner at Casselman. "The project has fit in real well here and has meant a lot for this community."

"By producing energy from the wind responsibly, rather than burning fossil fuels, the Casselman Wind Farm annually will also avoid emissions of almost 57,000 tons of carbon dioxide and almost one million pounds of sulfur dioxide into the air," said Gov. Rendell. "That is equivalent to removing more than 10,750 cars from the road annually, or to the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by more than 46,000 acres of trees in a year."

NewsClip: Research Team Probes Wind Turbines Effect On Bat Population

10/17/2008