Press Releases
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May 14, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carol Renner, Communications/Govt
Relations Director, 218-299-5400
MORE THAN 400 SIGN UP TO CAPTURE THE WIND®
TURBINE TO BE BUILT THIS FALL
Moorhead Public Service customers have quickly supported the
municipal utility's offer to buy electricity generated by wind.
In less than three weeks, the Capture The Wind program has
reached its goal, with more than 400 customers signing up to
participate in the project. "We have 400 residential
customers who have become Charter Members of the program, 14
commercial customers who are participating, and 17 customers on
a waiting list so far," says Christopher Reed, director of
energy services and marketing for Moorhead Public Service,
Moorhead, Minn.
The largest customer participating in the program is Moorhead
State University, which has agreed to buy 83,000 kilowatt hours
of electricity each month at the wind power rate over a period
of 10 years. During that time, Moorhead State University will
prevent an estimated 7.3 million pounds of greenhouse gases from
being emitted into the air, which is equivalent to planting 986
acres of trees and removing 723 cars from the road.
Moorhead Public Service will now construct a 750-kilowatt wind
turbine on the northeast edge of Moorhead, near the Centennial
Ball Fields. Groundbreaking for the turbine id expected to be
held this fall. It will begin producing electricity by June
1999.
"The quick and enthusiastic response by Moorhead Public
Service customers shows that the community supports clean,
renewable energy projects," says Bill Schwandt, the
utility's general manager. Charter Members participating in the
Capture The Wind program pay just a half-penny more per kilowatt
hour for the renewable energy. For the average residential
customer, that means $5 more each month. Customers who
participate in the program won't be billed for wind-generated
electricity until the turbine begins operating next year. By
participating, customers save resources for future generations.
Customers who are still interested in subscribing to the program
may contact Moorhead Public Service to be placed on a waiting
list when slots become available.
Moorhead Public Service began researching the feasibility of
wind-generated electricity last year by installing a wind
monitoring station. Research compiled by the Energy and
Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota
showed the wind resource is plentiful at the proposed turbine
site.
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