Despite all the recent solar hype, the wind industry has been slowly picking up nationwide.
Duke Energy Renewables plans to build and operate its second wind farm in Pennsylvania, named the Laurel Hill Windpower Project. The 69-megawatt wind farm will be located in Lycoming County and will consist of 30 Siemens wind turbines that will generate enough electricity to power more than 2000 homes.
As part of a 25-year power purchase agreement, all of the renewable electricity generated by this new plant will be sold to Delaware Municipal Electric Corp. (DEMEC). Construction for the plant began in August and the company predicts commercial operation to be achieved by September 2012.
“The remarkable growth we’ve seen in Duke Energy Renewables’ wind and solar business lines this year is a testament to customers like DEMEC that understand the long-term value of affordable renewable energy,” said Duke Energy Renewables President Greg Wolf.
“DEMEC is a leader in the development and support of renewable energy,” said DEMEC President and CEO Patrick E. McCullar. “We’ve been providing green energy products to our members since 2004, well before the Delaware Renewable Portfolio Standard became law. The Laurel Hill Windpower Project is the perfect addition to our expanding renewables portfolio. We look forward to our partnership with Duke Energy Renewables and value the experience they bring as wind farm developers and managers.”
The introduction of the new Laurel Hill plant will contribute to the industry’s total 42,432 MW of utility-scale wind power capacity, according to the American Wind Energy Assocation.
In addition to Laurel Hill, Duke Energy Renewables owns and operates the 70-MW North Allegheny Windpower Project also located in Pennsylvania. This past July, the company also announced plans to build its 131 MW ‘Cimarron II’ wind farm in Kansas, making it its second plant located in the state.
To read more about the Kansas wind farms read: A Second Wind.
