|
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, March 2, 2005: -- Fossil Gulch Wind Park, the first utility-scale wind project in the state of Idaho, will be based on GE Energy's 1.5-megawatt technology, the largest wind turbines assembled in the United States. Currently being developed by the Exergy Development Group of Helena, Montana, the 10.5-megawatt project's seven wind turbines will be installed on a 416-acre farmland site near Hagerman, Idaho, between Twin Falls and Boise. With more than 2,500 installations, GE Energy's 1.5-megawatt machines are among the most widely utilized megawatt-class wind turbines in the world. Under a 20-year agreement approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, Idaho Power of Boise will purchase the power generated by the Fossil Gulch Wind Park. Idaho Power is a leading energy provider with nearly half a million customers in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. The utility's Green Power Program provides customers the opportunity to voluntarily contribute toward the purchase of energy from wind and solar resources. Since the program began in 2001, more than 1,800 customers have enrolled, signaling a growing interest in renewable energy throughout the state. When completed, Fossil Gulch will be Idaho's largest wind project. According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), currently the state's largest wind project is a two-turbine installation with a capacity of only 216 kilowatts. Current development plans for the state, however, include proposed projects ranging in size from 170 to 200 megawatts. "The Fossil Gulch Wind Park is a milestone project for Idaho," said Mark Little, vice president-power generation for GE Energy. "The success of Idaho Power's Green Power Program supports the growing global trend toward environmental stewardship. At GE Energy, we're pleased to support this movement, which encourages cleaner, greener technologies." "We share a commitment to the wind industry with GE Energy, a company that can supply leading technology for smaller projects like Fossil Gulch as well as much larger projects," said James Carkulis, president of Exergy Development Group. "We look forward to working with GE Energy in the future to develop additional projects that will increase the country's supply of clean, wind-generated electricity." According to AWEA, wind energy remains the fastest growing energy technology in the world, and will be an important part of the energy mix of the future. In addition to being clean and sustainable, wind energy can help to diversify the economies of rural communities, adding to the tax base and providing new types of income, including lease royalties for landowners and new jobs. Using the nation's abundant winds as a fuel source also strengthens America's energy security. "The advantages of wind energy are numerous and clear, and the technology itself is rapidly advancing," Little added. "It is important to encourage the development of wind energy in the United States to ensure that renewable technologies will play an increasingly significant role in our energy picture." With wind turbine design, manufacturing and/or assembly facilities in Germany, Spain and the United States, GE Energy's current wind energy portfolio includes wind turbines with rated outputs ranging from 1.5 to 3.6 megawatts, and support services ranging from project development assistance to operation and maintenance. The company has developed and/or installed more than 7,100 wind turbines with a total capacity exceeding 5,600 megawatts. Based in Helena, Montana, Exergy Development Group (www.exergydevelopmentgroup.com) specializes in formulating opportunities for distributed and hybrid generation, and currently has five projects in the design and construction stages throughout the United States. The company offers a full range of services including design, engineering, financing, construction and operations. About GE EnergyGE Energy (www.gepower.com) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technology, with 2004 revenues of $17.3 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy provides equipment, service and management solutions across the power generation, oil and gas, transmission and distribution, distributed power and energy rental industries.For more information, contact:Dennis MurphyGE Energy +1 678 844 6948 dennis.murphy@ps.ge.com Ken Darling or Howard Masto Masto Public Relations +1 518 786 6488 kenneth.darling@ps.ge.com howard.masto@ps.ge.com |
|
|
Idaho's First Utility-Scale Wind Project to Feature GE 1.5-Megawatt Technology |