Exelon Corporation this week celebrated more than 1 million megawatt-hours sold as it enters its fifth year in the wind energy business and continues to provide emission-free, reliable electricity to customers throughout Pennsylvania.

Also this week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Center for Resource Solutions honored the PECOWind program with a Supplier Award recognizing PECO and partner Community Energy for success in marketing and encouraging participation in green power programs.

Exelon has 20-year agreements to purchase the power from Mill Run and Somerset wind farms, located southeast of Pittsburgh, the Waymart Wind Energy Center, near Scranton, Pa., and the Mountaineer Wind Energy Center in Thomas, West Virginia.

Since coming online in October 2001, the Mill Run and Somerset wind farms have produced about 250,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of emission-free electricity, or enough electricity to supply more than 25,000 average homes. Mountaineer began commercial operations in January 2003 and has produced about 500,000 MWh (enough for 50,000 homes) since then. Waymart came online at the end of 2003 and has produced about 300,000 MWh (enough for 30,000 homes) since then.

"The magnitude of voluntary customer demand for wind-generated electricity has been gratifying to us. The customers' willingness to pay a premium for wind energy has supported not only new construction of wind plants, but also our involvement in the wholesale marketing of wind energy," said Mike Freeman, mid-market originator for Exelon Power Team. "That's exactly the way renewable energy markets are supposed to work."

In addition to residential customer interest in wind energy, commercial customers in Pennsylvania have accounted for some of the largest wind energy purchases in the nation. In 2001, the University of Pennsylvania, Penn State University, Carnegie Mellon University, Philadelphia Suburban Water Corporation and Giant Eagle, Inc. announced the nation's five largest ever retail wind energy purchases.

Since 2001, commercial customers such as the U.S. Army, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and many others have declared their support for wind energy by purchasing power from Pennsylvania wind farms.

PECOWind received one of only two awards honoring new green power programs or products nationwide at the Tenth National Green Power Marketing Conference.

"We're delighted to see utilities and marketers, like PECO and Community Energy, demonstrate leadership in renewable energy markets with innovative marketing and dedicated green power program development," said Douglas L. Faulkner, acting assistant secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. "These organizations are leading by example and providing significant support towards new renewable energy power plants across the country."

"I'm thrilled with the recognition, and more importantly, the success of PECOWind," said Denis O'Brien, president of PECO. "By offering customers a choice in how their power is generated, we are helping them join us in our ongoing efforts to protect and preserve our neighborhoods and our world."

"The EPA award recognizes environmental excellence and leadership," added Brent Alderfer, president of Community Energy. PECOWind is the hands down winner in that category because it offers 100 percent emission-free energy with no fuel risks, all produced here in Pennsylvania. That's a future everyone can buy."

Exelon's wind portfolio, at 154 megawatts, provides enough electricity to power about 40,000 homes annually.

"Our wind facilities provide diversity in Exelon's generation portfolio and have allowed us to be a significant participant in the renewable energy markets," said Freeman.

Exelon Power Team partners with Community Energy, Inc., of Wayne, Pa., to market wind energy in the region, and supplies PECO Energy's wind rider program (PECOWind), which now provides wind energy to about 17,000 PECO customers.

11/18/2005