Fengate Asset Management and Longroad Energy Partners LLC (LEP) have announced a co-development and financing partnership to develop and construct the 72.6 MW Weaver wind project in Hancock County, Maine.
Under the terms of the agreement, Fengate and LEP will co-fund the development and construction of Weaver, which is now before the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The 22-turbine project is in late stage-development and is expected to achieve a notice to proceed in mid-2019, according to the developers. The anticipated commercial operations date is late 2020.
The partners are developing the 22-turbine facility in the towns of Eastbrook and Osborn. The applications with the Maine DEP were accepted as complete on Nov. 13, the agency says.
Weaver was previously proposed as a 23-turbine, 75.9 MW facility, but that application was withdrawn on Aug. 28, 2015, at Weaver Wind’s request, says the DEP. According to the Bangor Daily News, the former proposal had caused backlash from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife over bird and bat mortality concerns.
“Fengate is very pleased to partner with LEP to further expand our renewable energy investments in the United States,” says Greg Calhoun, director of U.S. infrastructure at Fengate. “This investment will build and provide a new source of clean, reliable energy for Maine, in partnership with the most experienced and accomplished wind energy developer in the state.”
“We are very happy to be working together with Fengate on this important project,” adds Charles Spiliotis of Longroad Energy Partners. “As we looked to the market for financing partners, their experience and team were impressive and ready to take on all the challenges that developing wind in Maine can bring.”
Notably, Weaver was proposed under Rhode Island’s recent request for 400 MW of renewable energy projects.
