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Wind Energy to Power Penn


Photos by Hans Greene


Penn will make the largest U.S. retail purchase of wind-produced electric energy through an agreement with Community Energy Inc. (CEI).

The announcement of this unprecedented clean energy purchase was made last Wednesday at the dedication of the state's newest wind farms, the Exelon-Community Energy Wind Farms at Somerset and Mill Run in western Pennsylvania. The event was held at the Somerset Wind Farm and coincided with Governor Mark Schweiker's proclamation of "Wind Energy Week" for the week of October 22.

The University, together with Penn State University, Philadelphia Suburban Water, Carnegie Mellon University and Giant Eagle Inc., have signed on to purchase 75 percent of what the combined 24-megawatt wind farms will produce annually. Penn alone will purchase the output of five of the 215-foot-tall, 1.5-megawatt wind turbines, equivalent to more than 30 percent of the total energy generated from the two new wind farms. This purchase represents the largest retail wind energy purchase in the nation to date and will satisfy five percent of the University's annual energy needs.

Barry Hilts, Penn's associate vice president of facilities operations; Mike Coleman, director of campus maintenance services; and students from the Penn Environmental Group represented Penn at the ceremonies.

"We're very excited to be part of a clean energy future for Pennsylvania and the nation," Mr. Hilts said.

"Penn is leading the way to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future," said Brent Alderfer, CEI president. "Penn students, faculty staff, and alumni can take pride knowing five large wind turbines are producing new clean home-grown energy on their behalf."


Almanac, Vol. 48, No. 10, October 30, 2001

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS:

Tuesday,
October 30, 2001
Volume 48 Number 10
www.upenn.edu/almanac/

The answer is blowing in the wind; Penn agrees to purchase wind-generated electric energy.
The Political Science department has three newly appointed faculty members who have endowed chairs.
As winter weather approaches, the University has energy conservation initiatives ready to be implemented.
Dr. Norma Lang becomes the first woman and the first nurse to win the Codman Award.
The University celebrates 125 Years of Women at Penn, online with web sites and on campus with events.
The Government Affairs Update covers the recent developments in federal, commonwealth and city and community relations.
Volunteer opportunities in November are plentiful, including Shadowing Day and the Thanksgiving Food Drive.
There are two campus blood drives coming up in early November.