Ridgeline Energy and Diamond Generating Announces Completion of Rockland Wind Farm Project
AMERICAN FALLS, ID - DECEMBER 19, 2011 - Ridgeline Energy, LLC and Diamond Generating Corporation, today announced the start of commercial operation of the Rockland Wind Farm Project in American Falls.
The Rockland project is the second large Idaho wind installation for project partners Ridgeline Energy and Diamond Generating Corporation.The eighty megawatt facility includes forty-four Vestas V-100 wind turbine generators, each with a rated capacity of 1.8 megawatts.
"Thanks to the remarkable support we have received from Power County officials, local businesses, residents, and land owners this project finished on schedule and without a single lost-time accident," said Dennis Meany, President, Ridgeline Energy."The Rockland Wind Farm is the result of a great team of experienced professionals collaborating with equally great local partners and working towards a common goal."
Since initial construction began in March of 2011 over 170,000 labor hours were used to build access roads, collections systems, an on-site substation, and all 44 turbines.Nearly 60,000 of those hours were contributed by workers in American Falls, Southeast Idaho and surrounding areas.During peak construction the project employed well over 160 workers.Ten full-time employees will reside in the community of American Falls to monitor and maintain the facility. Two of those ten permanent employees are long time residents of American Falls / Aberdeen.
We have been able to give our staff the hours of work that support their families.," said Brock Kelsey of Bingham Co-op.We here at Bingham Cooperative would like to say thank you for your business and an enjoyable summer working with the many crews. Ridgeline Energy has supported us in our business, as they have done throughout the County."
"Idaho has a phenomenal wind resource, but even more important to Rockland's success has been the state's work force.We knew from the beginning that finding qualified construction labor in Southeast Idaho would not be a problem," said Jay Williams, Project Manager."It's one of the key reasons this project maintained an outstanding safety record and experienced no major setbacks.We are extremely thankful to be a part of this community."
The Rockland wind farm is located on 15,000 acres of private land in Power County, Idaho, southwest of American Falls.The wind farm is a joint venture between Ridgeline Energy and Diamond Generating Company and now that it's fully operational will generate enough carbon-free electricity to power approximately 37,000 average American homes. The power from Rockland wind farm has been sold under a long-term power purchase agreement to Idaho Power.Ridgeline Energy will be the operator of the wind farm.
Power County received an immediate economic boost this year due to building permits but it will also receive a substantial amount of annual tax revenue over the 25 year life of the project.
Ridgeline Energy
Ridgeline Energy, LLC, with personnel located in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and New York, focuses on developing utility-scale wind and solar-energy projects in the United States that meet our customers' needs and provide significant benefits to our host communities and landowners. For more information visit www.ridgelineenergy.com
Ridgeline is part of Veolia Environment (NYSE:VE) (Paris Euronext:VIE), the world's largest environmental services company providing tailored solutions in energy management, water management, waste services, and freight and passenger transportation.In North America the Veolia Environment operations groups maintain headquarters in Chicago, have been in operation for more than 30 years and employ in excess of 30,000 people.Visit the company's global Web site at www.veoliaenvironnement.com and the North American Web site at www.veolianorthamerica.com
Diamond Generating Corporation
As a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation, one of the world's most diverse enterprises, with over 500 subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide, Diamond Generating Corporation has developed a reputation for financial strength and long-term stability. Its expertise in power development and generation, including greenfield development, acquisition, fuel procurement, financing, construction and operations management has resulted in a portfolio of efficient, state-of-the-art, environmentally sound generating facilities.
For more information, visit the Diamond Generation web site at: http://www.dgc-us.com