Press Releases
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July 29, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carol Renner, Communications/Govt
Relations Director 218-299-5400
BID AWARD FOR MOORHEAD WIND TURBINE
Moorhead Public Service customers who signed up for the Capture The Wind®
program are one step closer to receiving electricity generated from wind. At
its meeting July 28, the Moorhead Public Service Commission awarded the bid
for the 750-kilowatt wind turbine to N
E G Micon.®
The Denmark-based firm, with manufacturing facilities in Hutchinson,
Minnesota, has manufactured more than 6,500 turbines worldwide.
N E
G Micon® was the low bidder for the project, with a bid of
$667,000. The second bid of $709,586 was submitted by Vestas-American Wind
Technology, Inc. Earlier estimates for the project placed turbine costs at
$713,500. "We're extremely pleased that the bids came in lower than
anticipated," said Bill Schwandt, Moorhead Public Service general
manager. "It means the project can move forward, with groundbreaking
scheduled for this fall." Bids were evaluated based on experience,
warranty, maintenance, cost of operation and installed cost. Vestas®
and N E
G Micon® are the world's first and second largest manufacturers
of wind turbines respectively.
Moorhead Public Service will now construct a 750-kilowatt wind turbine on
the northeast edge of Moorhead, near Centennial Ball Fields. Groundbreaking
for the turbine is expected to be held this fall. It will begin producing
electricity by June 1999. The community-owned utility introduced the program
to customers in April 1998. Within three weeks, more than 400 customers
signed up to participate in the voluntary program. There is currently a
waiting list of more than 100 customers who which to sign up for the Capture
The Wind program when slots become available, according to Christopher Reed,
director of energy services and marketing for Moorhead Public Service.
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 purchasing clean, renewable
electricity generated by wind, customers save resources for future
generations.
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