Press Releases
10/31/2019
Celebrating Massachusetts’ Largest Wind Farm:
Celebrating Massachusetts’ Largest Wind Farm:
Gov. Deval Patrick, Policymakers Visit Hoosac Wind Power Project
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December 3, 2012
FLORIDA, Mass. — Representing a milestone in Massachusetts’ renewable energy development, the Hoosac Wind Power Project hosted a special visit from Gov. Deval Patrick and the state’s policymakers today. The delegation got an up-close look at what it takes to build the state’s newest and largest utility-scale wind farm, generating millions in local revenue and complete with turbines made in the USA.
In total, Hoosac’s 19 turbines generate 28.5 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable energy. Each GE turbine can produce up to 1.5 MW, or 2,000 horsepower. Altogether, the total project powers over 10,000 homes annually.
When Hoosac goes online later this year, it will contribute to a record year of wind energy installation in The Commonwealth, with Massachusetts on track to surpass 100 MW of installed renewable energy.
“Wind energy has so much potential, and the completion of this project will be a big step forward in reducing our reliance on volatile, foreign fossil fuels,” said Gov. Patrick. “We share a common vision with the project developers to make the Commonwealth a healthier and environmentally cleaner place for generations to come.”
Rising on Crum Hill in Monroe, Mass., and on Bakke Mountain in Florida, Mass., Hoosac employed a peak of 140 construction workers, with $3.8 million spent locally during building. Over the life of the project, Hoosac will generate approximately $6.8 million in tax revenue for the towns, and lease payments to local landowners will total another $3 million.
“The Hoosac Wind Power Project generates not only clean, renewable energy, but also sustainable jobs and tax revenue for the community,” said Martín Múgica, president and CEO of Iberdrola Renewables, LLC, the project’s owner and operator. “We are proud to bring this level of long-term economic development to Massachusetts, and we could not do it without the support of our many partners.”
Numerous Massachusetts companies are part of the current construction effort. These companies include:
- State Electric Corporation, Woburn
- Mass Electric Construction Company, Boston
- BOND, Boston
- Sum Co., Salem
- Environmental Resources Management, Boston
- Stantec, Northampton and Westfield
- Pantermehl Environmental Services, Ashfield
- United Site Services, Springfield
- County Concrete, Pittsfield
- Waterman, North Adams
- Always Growing Landscaping, Washington
- FGG Consulting, Farmington
- Walden Trucking, North Adams
- Whitney Trucking, Northfield
- Lille Trucking, North Adams
- A-1 Trucking, North Adams
- Adams Stone, North Adams
- N Della Inc., Adams
Executives from NSTAR also participated in the behind-the-scenes tour at Hoosac.
“We’re proud to support Hoosac Wind by purchasing 100 percent of its clean, renewable energy generated right here in Massachusetts,” said Jim Hunt, vice president of regulatory affairs and community relations for Northeast Utilities, NSTAR’s parent company. “Long-term contracts between utilities and renewable energy developers help projects like this to move forward by providing an important financial commitment.”
BOND is the construction company that built the Hoosac project, which created more than 100 construction jobs in the community.
“Hoosac Wind was an exciting project to be a part of,” said Edward Bond, CEO of BOND. “BOND is proud to be involved with this important project that utilized so many local Massachusetts companies.”
All of the GE turbines at Hoosac were assembled at sites throughout the United States.
“GE and Iberdrola Renewables have a long-standing relationship, and we are proud to work together on the largest wind farm in Massachusetts,” said Vic Abate, vice president of renewable energy for GE. “Our 1.5 MW turbine is a proven, advanced technology product that will provide clean, domestic and competitive energy for the state.”
Iberdrola Renewables, LLC is the U.S. renewable energy division of parent company IBERDROLA, S.A., an energy pioneer with the largest renewable asset base of any company in the world. Iberdrola Renewables, LLC is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and has over $9 billion of operating assets totaling more than 5,000 MW of wind and solar generation.
Media Contact:
Art Sasse, Director, Communications & Brand, Iberdrola Renewables, 503-796-7740
Paul Copleman, Media Relations, Iberdrola Renewables, 207-641-2805
Caroline Pretyman, NSTAR and Northeast Utilities, 617-424-2460
Krista Selmi, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, 617-626-1109
Sean Flanagan, Regan Communications, 617-488-2878
About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $44 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, Avangrid has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, Avangrid owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. Avangrid employs approximately 8,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens. In 2024, Avangrid ranked first among utilities and 12 overall. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2024 for the sixth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.
About Iberdrola: Iberdrola is one of the world's biggest energy companies and a leader in renewables, spearheading the energy transition to a low carbon economy. The group supplies energy to almost 100 million people in dozens of countries. With a focus on renewable energy, smart networks and smart solutions for customers, Iberdrola’s main markets include Europe (Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy and Greece), the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. The company is also present in growth markets such as Japan, Taiwan, Ireland, Sweden and Poland, among others.
With a workforce of nearly 40,000 and assets in excess of €141.7 billion, across the world, Iberdrola helps to support 400,000 jobs across its supply chain, with annual procurement of €12.2 billion. A benchmark in the fight against climate change, Iberdrola has invested more than €130 billion over the past two decades to help build a sustainable energy model, based on sound environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles.
