Freedom Wind Energy plans to develop a wind farm in Pennsylvania that will generate up to 400 megawatts (MW) of electricity, one of the largest wind mill projects in the state.

Freedom Wind, based in Butler, Pa., wants to install turbines at the site of a reclaimed strip mine that Cambria County is developing into an all terrain vehicle park. The county also sees an opportunity for wind development, and it conducted a bid solicitation, choosing Freedom Wind's proposal.

The project will produce at least 100 MW and as much as 400 MW, depending on the recreational needs of the site. Freedom Wind would own and operate the project, not "flip" it to a larger buyer when finished. The company plans to use in-state engineers and contractors, and to buy turbines from Gamesa, a Spanish company that is building a manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania.

Freedom Wind may sell the output to marketers, or sign up retail customers for the green power, then sell that "package" of buyers to marketers, the company said.

Pennsylvania's recently legislated Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard is increasing demand for wind energy. Under the AEPS, all retail suppliers in the state - utilities and marketers - must include alternative energy in their portfolios, starting with small percentages and rising to 18 percent over 15 years. That will include 8 percent of Tier I resources, which includes wind, the most widespread renewable.

Freedom Wind Energy is also developing a 30-MW wind project in Pennsylvania, and a project in New York that could generate up to 400 MW.

NewsClip: Group Hopes to Lasso Breezes with 200 Windmills in Cambria

1/21/2005