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“Prospecting” is a comprehensive, high-level review in which we complete initial assessments of potential sites to locate new project opportunities. We make initial assessments of potential sites based on a number of criteria, including topography; wind resource suitability; constructability; access to transmission networks; site size; land ownership; and environmental, zoning and other local and state laws and regulations, including state-sponsored RPS programs.
We use publicly available data or prior experience to determine if there are any known impediments to securing the land. From there, we conduct initial meetings with local landowners, government officials, community representatives and residents to gauge community support. If these meetings are favorable, we generally negotiate and enter into market-based land leases with landowners to secure rights to erect meteorological towers and build on the site. Farmers and those engaged in timber management have found particular benefits in adding wind as another crop, since turbines can be placed on tillable land and forested areas with low impact and provide a predictable annual income as protection against fluctuating crop and timber prices.
Once there is wind and land for a wind energy project, the power must be transmitted to the people. If existing transmission infrastructure is available, we attempt to secure our access upon selecting a potential site for development by discussing availability with applicable utilities and filing an application with the appropriate ISO or local electric utility to interconnect with the network. If transmission infrastructure does not exist or is not available, we study the feasibility of developing and constructing our own transmission infrastructure. To learn more about the grid and how it works, you can visit www.iso-ne.com.
Once we have selected a site, we begin the approval and permitting process with relevant local, state and federal governmental agencies. This process includes identifying required permits; holding preliminary informational meetings with agencies and stakeholder groups; determining the necessary studies to complete permit applications and conducting such studies; preparing environmental permitting and disclosure reports; holding public meetings; responding to information requests and seeking project approval. We make a concerted effort to build trust with the local community and may enlist local representatives to answer questions and address concerns.
Only after many months of monitoring, permitting, research, and public input does the first shovel hit the ground. Generally, contractors prepare the site for construction with clearing and grading activities; place the turbine foundations; erect the turbines; construct overhead or underground cables that collect energy produced at each turbine for delivery to the project’s substation; and build the roadways in and around the project. A single, specialized crane helps hoist the turbines and then raises the blades into position. You can see the whole process as it happened with our Kaheawa project on the island of Maui at www.kaheawa.com/kwp/gallery.cfm.
For the next 25 years, the turbines will generate clean energy, and First Wind will remain an active part of the community. Tax payments will continue to help municipalities, lease payments will assist landowners, and maintenance will be performed by a team based in the local Maine office. At the end of the operational life of the current turbines, they can be upgraded with the latest technology or taken down and recycled. You can see a live shot of our Mars Hill Wind project at http://www.mainewind.org/.
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