Clipper Windpower, Inc., announced the sale of 70 megawatts (MW) of its Liberty 2.5 MW wind turbines and its Maryland-based Criterion project development to Constellation Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Constellation Energy, Inc. a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Maryland. The development, slated for construction in 2010, is expected to become Maryland’s first wind energy project.
Under the terms of the agreement, Constellation will purchase 28 Clipper 2.5 MW Liberty wind turbines and the 70 megawatt (MW) Criterion Project. Clipper will provide operation and maintenance services under a long-term agreement, and 24/7 operation oversight through Clipper’s Remote Maintenance and Diagnostic Center located at its Cedar Rapids, Iowa manufacturing facility. The agreement, signed today, and subject to completion of certain closing conditions, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2010. The construction of the project is expected to commence in Spring 2010, with completion anticipated in the Fall.
“We applaud Constellation Energy’s leadership in entering the wind energy sector through the purchase of this project and Clipper Liberty wind turbines,” said Doug Pertz, President and CEO of Clipper Windpower. “Criterion will be a state-of-the-art project — one the State of Maryland and Constellation Energy can certainly be very proud of.”
The Criterion site is located on Backbone Mountain in Garrett County, Maryland, to the east of the county seat of Oakland. Initiated in 2001, the proposed project has undergone studies and extensive review by the state, local agencies and the local public. Criterion supports Maryland’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) which encourages new wind energy projects within the State of Maryland.