Iberdrola begins advanced development at its Wild Meadows Wind Farm (New Hampshire)
IBERDROLA, through its US subsidiary IBERDROLA RENEWABLES LLC, has begun advanced development of its 75.9 MW Wild Meadows wind farm project located on leased, privately-owned land in the towns of Alexandria and Danbury, in New Hampshire.
This represents a potential $150 million investment in the New Hampshire economy, and would add to IBERDROLA's existing investments in New Hampshire in Lempster and Groton. The project expects to provide up to 300 jobs during construction, and continues the company's commitment to New Hampshire and the state's growing renewable energy sector.
In addition to being a local source of clean energy, Wild Meadows would create significant local economic benefits in the form of construction jobs, local spending during construction, long term tax revenue and landowner income. The Company estimates the project will contribute $1.6 million per year to the local community, or more than $33 million over 20 years.
Environmental assessment studies and surveys have been largely completed and the Company expects to file for state approval with the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee in the coming months.
The decision to develop this project comes after the execution of a fixed price PPA over a 15-year term with a group of four Massachusetts utilities, recently filed with the State of Massachusetts' Department of Public Utilities.
Wild Meadows could become IBERDROLA's third wind farm in the state, after Lempster (24 MW) and Groton (48 MW), currently in operation.
This project would be a significant source of clean energy and would consolidate New Hampshire as a leader in meeting the New England region's renewable power needs.
The project would generate enough electricity to cover the needs of 30,000 typical houses on average, while offsetting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by over 340 million pounds per year, equivalent to burning 17.4 million gallons of gasoline or preserving about 1,200 acres of forest from conversion to cropland.
