Gov. Edward Rendell, Energy Leaders and Somerset County Families Celebrate New Wind Farm Rising Above Former Coal Mine
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October 9, 2008
WHO & WHAT:
Gov. Edward Rendell, local elected officials and energy leaders join hundreds of families from the Somerset community to celebrate the state's newest wind power project, Casselman.
Built atop a former surface mine, Casselman Wind Power Project brings a new source of clean, renewable power to the region and serves as the site for a ground-breaking wildlife study on local bat populations. FirstEnergy Solutions Corp. delivers the wind power generated at Casselman to homes and businesses.
Interview opportunities available with:
- Gov. Edward Rendell
- Gary Leidich, Executive Vice President, FirstEnergy and President, FirstEnergy Generation
- Commissioner Jim Marker, Somerset County
- Judy Pletcher, landowner
- Don Furman, Senior Vice President for Development, Transmission, and Policy, Iberdrola Renewables
- Ed Arnett, Ph.D., Principal Wildlife Investigator, Bat Conservation International
WHEN & WHERE:
Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008
Casselman Operations Center
2200 Rockdale Road
Garrett, PA 15542
| 10 a.m. -noon | Media interview opportunities with elected officials and speakers, as well as live remote and photo opportunities as local school children tour Casselman wind turbines. Picnic lunch for the community and all guests. |
| Noon-1 p.m. | Speaker program and ribbon cutting ceremony |
| 1 p.m. -2:30 p.m. | Live remote and photo opportunities as the community and local elected officials tour the Casselman wind turbines |
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Interview opportunities with Pennsylvania elected officials, top energy industry executives and community leaders
- Weather permitting, opportunities for live remotes at the site near the wind turbines
- B-roll of a virtual site tour of the Casselman Wind Power Project and bat wildlife study
- Print-quality still images of wind technicians at work and the turbines
BACKGROUND:
The Casselman Wind Power Project, located in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, is putting land reclaimed from a former coal mining site to productive use. Eight of the project's wind turbines sit atop a rehabilitated surface mine. The 23 turbines at this wind power project generate 34.5 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable energy and contribute jobs and tax revenue to the local community.
Casselman supports the local economy through lease payments to local landowners and property tax revenues for the area. Numerous jobs were created during the project's construction period, which concluded when the project became operational in early 2008.
In keeping with Iberdrola Renewables' excellent track record and longstanding commitment to wildlife at its projects, the company is conducting industry-leading studies with third-party conservation scientists to collect data about bat interactions with wind turbines and mitigation options at this project.
DIRECTIONS TO CASSELMAN OPERATIONS CENTER:
From Pennsylvania Turnpike points east and west.
- Take Exit 110 toward Johnstown/Somerset/US-219
- At 2nd light, turn right onto N. Center Ave./PA-601
- Go to 2nd stop light (courthouse on left, post office on right) and turn right onto Union St.
- At the next stop sign, turn left onto Edgewood Ave.
- Continue straight through 2 lights, and it eventually turns into Water Level Rd. (and is simultaneously 653 West when in Rockwood)
- At the stop sign in just under 9 miles, turn left onto Bridge St. (a sign just before the stop sign will indicate that Markleton is to the left)
- Immediately after the turn onto Bridge St., you will cross railroad tracks and a bridge over the Casselman River
- Proceed 5.5 miles on Bridge St., which is also known as Rockdale Rd.
- Entrance to the wind farm is on the left
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Paul Copleman, Iberdrola Renewables, (484) 654-0106, pcopleman@IberdrolaREN.com
Jan Johnson, Iberdrola Renewables, (503) 796-7070, jan.johnson@IberdrolaREN.com
Julie Yamamoto, CMD Agency, (503) 223-6794, jyamamoto@cmdagency.com
Stefanie Stockton, CMD Agency, (503) 223-6794, sstockton@cmdagency.com
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