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First Wind Overview
Founded in 2002
Operating in 6 states
4 regional offices
200 employees
16 projects
980 MW capacity
$2.2 billion in assets
The POWER of Wind
Wind power is the scalable renewable
energy solution for clean energy goals and
standards
Wind energy capacity can lower power
prices in wholesale markets
Long-term contracts for wind power lock in
competitive power prices for ratepayers,
hedging the market and supply risks of
fossil fuel sources
Manufacturing, construction and operations
of wind projects utilize local contractors and
businesses, and provide stable income and
tax revenues for host communities
Wind power produces electricity without
jeopardizing natural resources, climate or
public health
W E LCOM E T O ST E E L W INDS
TURNING THE RUST BELT INTO THE WIND BELT
Not long ago, the winds of Lackawanna and Hamburg swept
aimlessly through the desolate terrain of an abandoned steel
mill on the U.S. shore of Lake Erie. Today, the power of those
winds is being harnessed and shared, providing clean energy
to Western New York from the 35 megawatt (MW) Steel
Winds energy facility.
STEEL WINDS PROFILE:
Steel Winds I began operating in 2007 with a 15 megawatt
(MW) expansion completed in 2012
Comprised of 14 Clipper 2.5 megawatt (MW) turbines
located in the towns of Hamburg and Lackawanna
Created local jobs and ongoing contracting opportunities,
and a source of new revenue for Lackawanna
Helping New York State meet its goal of 29% renewable
energy sources by 2015
The project generates up to 50 million kilowatt hours of
electricity each year, enough to power approximately
11,000 New York homes
CLEAN ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT FOR NEW YORK
Steel Winds is a great source of pride in the Lackawanna
community, a symbol of economic rebirth, and a demonstration of
energy innovation. At Steel Winds, First Wind is harvesting the
famous winds of the Great Lakes, and making productive use of
brownfield land unsuitable for most other purposes. Steel Winds
generates a broad range of local benefits, while positioning
Lackawanna and Hamburg as leaders in energy innovation.
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
The combined project generates, on average, nearly
$300,000 per year in tax revenue and direct community
benefits
Development and construction created significant contracting
opportunities for many types of local businesses, including
professional services; construction contractors, and hospitality
providers
Ongoing operations supports good jobs and continuing
contracting opportunities for local businesses
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
Construction included cleanup of a former industrial site,
involving more than 40,000 cubic yards of new, clean soil
cover and revegetation of the site
Electric power production at Steel Winds results in zero air or
water emissions
A conventional power plant in New York producing an
equivalent amount of electric energy would consume over
200,000 barrels of oil, or 50,000 tons of coal per year
The project helps avoid approximately 30,000 tons of CO2e
emissions per year that would result from conventional power
production
OTHER FIRST WIND PROJECTS IN NEW YORK
ABOUT FIRST WIND
First Wind is an independent renewable
energy company exclusively focused on
the development, financing, construction,
ownership and operation of utility-scale
renewable energy projects in the U.S.
Based in Boston, First Wind has wind
projects in the Northeast, the West and
Hawaii, with combined capacity of 980
megawatts (MW) – enough to power
approximately 300,000 homes each year.
For more information on First Wind, please
visit www.firstwind.com or follow us on
Twitter @FirstWind.
179 Lincoln St. Suite 500
Boston, MA 02111
www.firstwind.com
Rev-05.14.13 © 2013 First Wind Holdings.