UPC Wind, a leading North American wind power company, today announced the approval of a 20-year power purchase agreement to supply the City of Los Angeles with clean, renewable wind power from its Utah-based Milford Wind Corridor project. Approved by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the L.A. City Council today, the power purchase agreement was made with the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA), acting on behalf of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and the cities of Burbank and Pasadena.
“The approval of this power purchase agreement by the Mayor and the L.A. City Council is a major milestone for our Utah-based Milford Wind Corridor project,” said Paul Gaynor, President and CEO of UPC Wind. “In addition to the clean, wind energy that the project will produce for The City of Los Angeles, it will be a source of revenue and new jobs to the Utah region where it will be built.”
As part of the long-term power purchase agreement, the LADWP will receive 185 megawatts (MW) from Phase I of the Milford Wind Corridor with the cities of Burbank and Pasadena getting 10 MW and 5 MW from the project respectively. The LADWP’s 185-megawatt share represents enough power to serve about 39,000 homes and meets 1.9 percent of the City’s renewable energy goal of 20 percent by 2010.
“This agreement was made possible by the hard work and leadership of SCPPA and LADWP,” said Krista Kisch, Vice President of Business Development – West Region for UPC Wind. “We applaud the City’s commitment to wind energy, and we are pleased that the Milford Wind Corridor project will play a role in helping them to achieve some of their renewable energy goals.”
As one of the first and the largest renewable energy facilities in Utah, the Milford Wind Corridor project will contribute significant property tax revenues and royalty payments to landowners while diversifying the employment base within both Millard and Beaver Counties where the proposed site is to be located.
In addition to increasing domestic energy production and increasing energy security, wind power is considered cost competitive with conventional sources of electricity, such as oil or gas. Unlike traditional polluting sources of energy, wind has no fuel cost, therefore serving as a natural hedge against volatile fuel prices, which in most markets in the US constitutes a significant portion of monthly electricity bills. Wind power does not emit greenhouse gases or other damaging pollutants. About First Wind
First Wind is based in Newton, Massachusetts. First Wind is an American-owned company, with a proven track record of developing, owning, and operating well-sited, community-friendly wind farms that increase energy independence. For more information on First Wind, please visit http://www.firstwind.com
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For more information, contact:
John Lamontagne
Director, Communications
First Wind
617-964-3340
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