February 4, 2004
Community Energy
Environmental Advocates of New York
New York Public Interest Research Group
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

New York Wind Purchases Soar as Customers “Catch the Wind”

Albany, NY—February 4, 2004. Government agencies, towns, villages, colleges, and commercial businesses were recognized for their use and support of wind power at an award ceremony on Wednesday in the LCA Press Room in the Legislative Office Building in Albany. Community Energy, Inc. hosted the event in coordination with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Environmental Advocates of New York, and New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG).

The 10 municipalities, three private colleges, two universities (one public, one private), and six commercial customers are purchasing approximately 10 Megawatts of wind energy, the electrical output of six wind turbines, or one-third the entire generation of the Fenner Wind Project, New York's largest wind farm, located in Madison County. (Click here for a list and a summary of the wind purchasers’ achievements.)

“Wind energy means electricity with no pollution and no fuel,” said Brent Alderfer, President and CEO of Community Energy. “New York customers are leading the way by purchasing NewWind Energy® and bringing home-grown wind energy on line in New York at a time when energy independence and security has never been more important”.

Croton-On-Hudson, the first New York municipality to purchase NewWind Energy® a year ago, is now one of ten municipalities that have purchased wind energy to date. “Wind energy costs about 2 cents more per kilowatt hour than traditional sources, but the price keeps going down as the demand increases,” said Mayor Robert Elliott. “We must use common sense by investing in our future, replacing traditional polluting energy with sensible wind power,” Elliott said.

Nine other municipalities have joined Croton in creating a “Municipal Wind Buyers Group” that reduces wind energy prices for all the members as they reach aggregate purchasing milestones. So far, the group has already reduced the price by 5%.

Community Energy gave special awards to three Energy Partners: NYSEG, Salerni & Boyd, and Select Energy; as well as the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), in recognition of their collaborative work in creating a new “Green Power” market. NYSERDA was applauded for funding wind development and marketing with their “Green Power” initiative. NYSERDA’s “Green Power” initiative and the PSC’s deregulated electricity efforts and environmental disclosure tracking system were touted as the key reason why Community Energy is now able to make clean, renewable New York State wind power available to all residential and commercial customers in the state.

NYSERDA President Peter R. Smith joined Community Energy and environmental organizations to present leadership awards to customers. “Under the leadership of Governor Pataki, New York State has made a commitment to advance the use of renewable energy and ensure the people of the State have every opportunity to take advantage of it,” said Smith. “NYSERDA is pleased to be recognized for our efforts in helping to make the Governor’s commitment a reality by supporting green power marketing initiatives across the State.”

College and university wind energy purchasers were acknowledged for their message that renewable energy should become part of the future of higher education in NYS. “In this day and age, we all have to do our part to look at cleaner, renewable alternative sources”, said Union College President Roger Hull. “As an emissions-free, natural energy source, wind power clearly must be considered by all energy consumers. It is part of our obligation as an institution of higher education to be ahead of the curve and to help set a community standard. For Union College, the environmental benefits far outweigh the few additional cents per kilowatt-hour that wind currently costs. We hope others will join with us in this movement toward cleaner energy.” The State University at Buffalo was also acknowledged for being the largest purchaser of wind energy in the state to date.

Mohawk Paper was recognized for their purchase of a full turbine’s worth of wind power, making them the first paper company in the USA to buy wind power, as well as the largest wind power purchase in the Capitol Region, and the largest industrial wind energy purchase in New York State. “Mohawk has a long-standing tradition of striving for environmental excellence in all aspects of its business”, said George Milner, Sr. Vice President. “Our use of wind-generated electricity is a way to demonstrate that commitment to our surrounding communities, employees, suppliers, regulators, lenders, shareholders, and most importantly - our customers”.

Community Energy, Inc. is a leading marketer and developer of wind-generated electricity, under the NewWind Energy® brand. With support from NYSERDA, Community Energy has made clean energy options available throughout all New York, directly and in partnership with utility suppliers. Community Energy has helped bring four new wind farms on line in the mid-Atlantic region, with more on the way as a result of emerging customer demand. For more information: www.CommunityEnergy.biz.

“Wind energy is a win for clean air,” stated Anne Reynolds, Program Director at Environmental Advocates of New York. “This technology gives us the ability to make electricity without the pollution that causes smog and acid rain and triggers asthma attacks. As long as coal power plants remain the biggest polluters in New York, support for new wind projects will be the best thing we can do to support clean air.”

###

Editor’s Note: B-roll and electronic photos of windmills and the wind farm in Fenner, NY are available. Please contact Marion Trieste, (518) 796-9241.