UPC Wind, a leading North American wind power company, today announced progress achieved by its Mars Hill Wind Farm since commencing commercial operations on March 27, 2007. To date, the Mars Hill Wind Farm has generated over 25,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean electricity and a corresponding number of Green-e certified Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). In addition to performing ongoing evaluations of the site, UPC Wind has engaged the surrounding community via meetings and discussions with environmental and recreational groups, including representatives of the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), the International Appalachian Trail and the Big 13 ATV Club.
“As New England’s first utility-scale wind project, the Mars Hill Wind Farm demonstrates that clean, renewable energy production is a feasible, viable commercial opportunity within Maine and throughout the region,” said Paul Gaynor, President and CEO of UPC Wind. “Given this significance, we are committed to ensuring that the project continues providing local revenue and jobs that benefit the Mars Hill community while also helping to shape America’s energy future.”
Below is a summary of notable progress that UPC Wind is reporting regarding operations at its Mars Hill Wind Farm:
Operation Highlights –
• Since commencing commercial operations on March 27, 2007, the Mars Hill Wind Farm has generated over 25,000 MWh, consistent with its projected commercial operating levels. The power generated is sufficient to supply electricity to over 15,000 New England homes.
• Generating an equivalent amount of electric energy from a traditional fossil fuel burning facility in New England would have required over 50,000 barrels of oil or over 13,500 tons of coal.
• Based on data recently published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (U.S. EPA) Emissions and Generation Resource Integrated Database (E-GRID), New England generation sources would also have emitted nearly 11,600 tons of CO2, 12 tons of NOx and 30 tons of SO2 emissions in producing the same energy as the Mars Hill Wind Farm in three months of operation.
• This amount of CO2 avoided is equivalent to the emissions of over 2,000 cars or nearly 1,500 SUVs.
Sound Measurements and Evaluation –
• UPC Wind filed a Sound Level Study with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on June 21, 2007. The study, conducted by technical consultant Resource Systems Engineering, includes comprehensive, detailed sound measurements and analysis of both existing ambient conditions and wind farm operations. The findings were benchmarked against the 2003 sound level estimates relied upon by the DEP in issuing the Mars Hill Wind Farm site location permit.
• The Sound Level Study confirms that both ambient sound levels and sound levels from wind farm operations are generally consistent with the findings of the DEP in its order approving the construction of the wind farm.
• Given the potential for weather and seasonal conditions to affect ambient and operating sound levels, UPC Wind has proposed additional voluntary monitoring at three month intervals through Spring 2008. Additional quarterly monitoring results will be provided to the DEP as they become available.
• Copies of the Sound Level Study are being provided to both the Town of Mars Hill and to a representative of several local residents who have expressed concerns about sound levels.
“The progress made by the Mars Hill Wind Farm in its first three months of commercial operation has met our expectations,” said Michael Alvarez, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of UPC Wind. “In particular, we are very pleased with the performance of the wind farm to date and satisfied that the Sound Level Study has confirmed that operating sound levels are consistent with the estimates contained in our permit application. However, to fully understand how the sound environment is affected by weather and seasonal conditions, we will continue our efforts to monitor sound levels and will work with the surrounding community to ensure the Mars Hill Wind Farm continues to operate at optimal performance levels.”
In addition to the milestones outlined above, UPC Wind has been working to ensure recreational access to Mars Hill, including meeting with representatives of the International Appalachian Trail and the Big 13 ATV Club to mark and re-route trails to enable safe use of certain road infrastructure. UPC Wind has also worked with leading environmental advocacy organizations such as the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) to provide access to the Mars Hill Wind Farm for educational tours for the organization’s members.
“I would like to express my appreciation to UPC Wind for their efforts to re-open Mars Hill Mountain for recreational use, specifically to ATVs,” stated Don Chandler, President of Big 13 ATV Club, in a recent letter to UPC Wind. “I am sure the people in the local Mars Hill area will thank you greatly for this hard work by the club and UPC. The Big 13 ATV Club is supportive of green energy in the state of Maine and the majority are pleased with the Mars Hill Wind Farm,” continued Chandler in the letter.
In addition to increasing domestic energy production and increasing energy security, wind power is considered cost competitive with conventional sources of electricity, such as oil or gas. Unlike traditional polluting sources of energy, wind has no fuel cost, therefore serving as a natural hedge against volatile fuel prices, which constitutes a significant portion of monthly electricity bills in most markets in the United States. Wind power also emits no greenhouse gases or other damaging pollutants.
UPC Wind is based in Newton, Massachusetts, with offices in Maine, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, California, Oregon and Hawaii. UPC Wind is an American-owned company, with a proven track record of developing, owning and operating well-sited, community-friendly wind farms that increase energy independence. Additional information on UPC Wind can be found at www.upcwind.com.
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