First Wind, a USA-based, independent wind energy business focused on utility-level wind power projects, declared that it has started commercial power generation at the 40 MW Sheffield Wind project owned by the company and located in Vermont.
First Wind marked the commencement of commercial operations of its 40 MW Sheffield Wind Project. Credit: Business Wire
The ribbon cutting event witnessed participation by Governor Peter Shumlin, company representatives and members and officials of the local community. The project will generate enough power to meet the electricity requirements of around 15,000 households in Vermont.
Sheffield Wind project situated in the Town of Sheffield in the Northeast Kingdom deploys 16 Liberty 2.5 MW, wind turbines and will produce adequate power to meet the power requirements for around 45% of the households in the Northeast Kingdom. The wind project will expand the power generation portfolio in Vermont and the power produced from the project will be connected to the grid in such a way to augment the consistency of the grid and bring down the cost of power to the consumers. The Sheffield Wind Project has entered into agreements with three utilities from Vermont such as Washington Electric Cooperative (WEC), Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) and Burlington Electric Department (BED) to trade the power generated from the project. Both WEC and VEC who serve their clients in the Northeast Kingdom will distribute most of the power from the project.
During the construction phase, the project has provided around 200 local employments, and contributed to the growth in business of local companies. The project, which has commenced its commercial operations will pay over $520,000 every year to the Town of Sheffield as tax for its use towards local developments. During its life time, the project will contribute around $1 million a year to Vermont in the form of maintenance contracts, property and state taxes and payment and services for the land. The wind power generation of the project will save around 221,000 barrels of oil and 61,000 tons of coal, which otherwise would have been burnt for power generation.