First Wind has celebrated the fifth anniversary of successful commercial operations of its 57 MW Stetson I Wind project. Since it began commercial operations on Jan. 23, 2009, the first phase of the wind farm has produced enough energy to power an average of 21,400 Maine homes annually, the company notes.
‘As our largest operating wind project in Maine and New England, the Stetson Wind project has been very successful and an important part of our generation fleet,’ comments Paul Gaynor, CEO of First Wind. ‘Since Stetson I went online in 2009, we have successfully expanded it and built three more projects in the state, with several other projects in development.’
After an expansion in 2010, the Stetson Wind project now has a combined generating capacity of 83 MW. First Wind says the two phases of project, located in Maine's Washington County, provide significant local revenue, including a total of $4 million in tax payments that will continue to be made to the surrounding communities for the next 20 years.
