The largest wind energy project in Utah has started operations, generating enough power to keep the lights on in 45,000 homes per year.
This article from the Deseret News says First Wind’s Milford Wind Corridor project has 97 wind turbines capable of producing 203.5 megawatts of electricity:
Eventually, the $400 million project will include 159 turbines across 40 square miles of public and private land.
“We’re looking forward to expanding it in the months and years to come,” Paul Gaynor, chief executive officer of First Wind, said in the release. “This project is a great example of the kind of development that helps create jobs and helps stimulate the economy.”
The project’s power will go to the Southern California Public Power Authority, on behalf of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the cities of Burbank and Pasadena, Calif. In December 2007, First Wind signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with the authority.
“We’re pleased to see this project go online and begin delivering clean power to our customers,” said Bill Carnahan, the authority’s executive director, said at Tuesday dedication ceremony.
The article goes on to say that the Milford Wind Corridor is the first-of-its-kind project under a new Bureau of Land Management program to develop wind energy on federal lands.