Politics & Government

Malloy Heralds New Solar, Wind Power Projects

Wind farm, solar installation will yield energy prices that are competitive with fossil fuels, the governor said.

By Corey Fyke

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced two major clean-energy projects Friday that he said will lower rates for state residents.

The governor said a solar installation slated to be built in Sprague and Lisbon and a wind-energy farm in Maine will cost under 8 cents per kilowatt-hour, which is close to matching the cost of power generated from fossil fuels and represents some of the lowest costs ever for solar and wind power in the region. Both projects have signed long-term contracts with both Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating for a combined 270 megawatts of power and related renewable-energy credits.

“The selection of these two projects is a major milestone in implementing our Comprehensive Energy Strategy,” Malloy said.  “These projects bring real benefits — cleaner power with no air emissions and improved reliability by diversifying our energy portfolio — all at a cost comparable to electricity generated from conventional power plants.  This is the most significant step Connecticut has ever taken to harness the power of clean energy and this announcement is truly a historic moment in Connecticut’s energy history.”

Here's a breakdown of the two projects:

  • Number Nine Wind Farm, a 250 MW land-based wind farm to be located in Aroostook County, Maine.  EDP Renewables North America LLC, an international leader in large-scale wind installations, is the project developer. 
  • Fusion Solar Center, a 20 MW AC solar photovoltaic system which will be located in Sprague and Lisbon, CT on land primarily owned by the Connecticut-based Fusion Paperboard Company.  The project developer is HelioSage Energy, known nationally for its solar expertise.
The power-purchase agreements will now be submitted to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) for review and approval and the companies must also obtain all other necessary local and state approvals.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here