Exelon - Community Energy Somerset Wind Farm

By Brent Alderfer, President and CEO Community Energy Inc.

Pennsylvania has always led the way in energy. By the year 1761, coal was being extracted to provide light and heat for hundreds of citizens in Pennsylvania, making the state a center of the original industrial revolution. In the year 1859, an oil well in Titusville, Pennsylvania initiated the boom of the modern petroleum industry.

Again, in the early 1900s, the Keystone state established effective methods of transmitting and burning natural gas and constructed the first long distance natural gas pipeline in the U.S. These energy industries have created jobs, fueled the economy, and improved standards of living in Pennsylvania and throughout the country.

As a pioneer in various aspects of the evolution of the energy industry in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, Pennsylvania has proven its ability to not only adapt and respond as innovative technology becomes available, but to step up and be a leader in embracing new discoveries and promote the sensible. It is now the 21st century and Pennsylvania is flexing its leadership muscles once again.

Imagine a 400 foot turbine with its white rotor blades that can reach higher than the Statue of Liberty’s outstretched arm. Imagine power without fuel at a fixed stable price. Pennsylvania and its citizens are about to embark on the next major energy industry, an industry that utilizes an infinite and clean source: wind.

Right now, our state has 6 existing wind farms and 129 Megawatts (MW) of power already on line. With one 20 MW farm, a $40 million dollar project, slated for the end of the year at Bear Creek and 4 more proposed for 2006, we’ll have a total of 338 MW of power coming from within our state and integrated into the PJM regional transmission grid.

As for Pennsylvania’s residents, they have stepped up to the plate, challenging government officials to promote other energy sources and even choosing the option to purchase wind energy through their utility company.

Together, Pennsylvania and its citizens are contributing to the development of even more wind. In fact, Pennsylvania produces the most Megawatts from wind energy of all states east of the Mississippi.

Pennsylvania is slowly diversifying the state’s fuel mix towards more renewable sources that improve our environment and the economy. The environmental aspect is obvious, but the economic one may seem a mystery, at least for some states, but not in Pennsylvania.

Gamesa, one of the largest global manufacturers and suppliers of technologically advanced products, installations, and services in the renewable energy sector, has chosen Cambria County, Pennsylvania to produce wind turbines for distribution throughout the U.S. Thanks to the leadership of the Governor and Secretary McGinty, Pennsylvania won the stiff competition for this valuable industry participant.

The strong market for wind energy established over the past several years provides support for the growing industry. By buying wind energy, Pennsylvania residents will make possible a wind farm that will use Gamesa’s cutting edge technology and will help make high-paying manufacturing jobs available.

Pennsylvania, once again, leads the way. The most exciting aspect of all of this is the future. We have the opportunity to build this new industry and to see it thrive and grow here in Pennsylvania and nationally.

With wind, we’ve taken the lead by completing the circle necessary to launch a new industry, from manufacturing through development, to marketing. Pennsylvania already leads in manufacturing, projects, and customers and now has the opportunity to grow into a leadership role in financing, services, and smart public policy.

When community and government officials think forward and embrace a new twist in the energy industry as they have yet again in the Keystone state, everyone winds.

Community Energy Inc. was founded in 1999 to develop fuel-free renewable energy and has become a leader in the rapidly expanding market for wind energy.

Article is from the Department of Environmental Protection’s Update “Topic of the Month.”

12/9/2005