Wind Energy

New York?s Newest Wind Farm Now Under Construction

Iberdrola Renewables recently began construction at its newest wind farm project, in Herkimer County, New York. Large wind turbines components arrive almost daily by truck, laying the groundwork for the 74 megawatt (MW) Hardscrabble Wind Power Project in the towns of Fairfield, Norway, and Little Falls.

The nearly $200 million wind energy project, which is expected to complete construction and begin delivering emission-free electricity at the end of the year, is one of seven new wind farms Iberdrola Renewables currently has under construction around the U.S.

The wind energy project has already created nearly 200 construction jobs so far, which includes pouring wind turbine foundations, transporting components, installing electrical systems, and building roads, with the on-site crew increasing now that wind turbine installation has begun. Once complete, the wind farm will permanently employ a staff of six technicians to operate the site.

In addition to job creation, the Hardscrabble Wind Power Project will make a number of one-time and recurring payments to landowners and local jurisdictions over the life of the project.

Annual payments to the jurisdictions, which include the towns of Fairfield, Norway, and Little Falls, the West Canada School District, the City of Little Falls School District and Herkimer County, will total approximately $592,000, and escalate with inflation. Annual lease payments to participating landowners are projected to average $650,000 a year for the life of the wind farm.

Hardscrabble will feature 37 American-made Gamesa wind turbines which will stand on 100-meter towers. The tower sections are manufactured in Wisconsin, while the rest of the turbine — the blades, nacelle, and hub — is manufactured in Pennsylvania.

When complete, the wind farm will produce enough electricity to power over 25,000 typical New York homes each year. The clean, renewable energy produced at Hardscrabble will have a pollution-offset equal to removing an estimated 26,000 cars from the road.

Iberdrola Renovables has 5,194 MW of installed wind power capacity in Spain (a total of 5,536 MW from renewable sources, including mini-hydro power stations) and a further 5,516 MW abroad (3,877 MW in the US, 816 MW in the UK and 1,123 MW elsewhere).

www.iberdrolarenovables.es