The N.H. Electric Cooperative has agreed to purchase a quarter of the power output of the proposed Antrim Wind project.
The Coop, which is based in Plymouth, has entered into a 20-year contract. The amount of the contract was unknown. The N.H. Electric Cooperative has about 80,000 members throughout the state.
“We’re very pleased to enter into a contract with a New Hampshire energy provider for a significant amount of the energy produced,” said Jack Kenworthy, the head of development for Walden Green Energy, Antrim Wind’s parent company.
Kenworthy said he hopes that the Site Evaluation Committee will view the contract as a positive addition in its consideration of the project.
“It greatly amplifies the project’s benefit for the state and shows that there is a demand for competatively priced renewables in this state,” said Kenworthy. “It certainly demonstrates that the project had advanced considerably.”
The Antrim Wind development is currently under review by the state’s siting authority, the Site Evaluation Committee. The proposal includes nine turbines on the Willard Mountain and Tuttle Hill ridgeline in Antrim, and at capacity would produce up to 28 megawatts of electricity.
The SEC is expected to reach a decision on whether to approve the project by September. The committee has already considered the Antrim Wind project once, denying it in 2012 on the basis of impacts to the asthetics of the surrounding area. The revised project has one less tower, shortens the others, and includes additional mitigations.
If approved, construction would begin nearly immediatly and the turbines would be in operation by the end of 2017.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com.