Pattern Energy Reaches Full Operation at Hatchet Ridge Wind in Northern California

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Pattern Energy Group LP today announced its Hatchet Ridge Wind project in Burney, California has completed construction and is now operational. The 101.2 megawatt (MW) wind energy project will produce energy equivalent to the annual energy use of 44,000 California homes and is the only large-scale wind project in California to reach operation this year.

Pattern held an opening ceremony today to celebrate the commencement of operations at Hatchet Ridge Wind, which is located on a portion of Hatchet Mountain near the town of Burney in Shasta County.

"Pattern is proud that its Hatchet Ridge wind project is now a significant source of clean energy for Northern California and that the wind turbine towers were manufactured in California by Ameron International," said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Energy. "This project is the result of dedication from the two property owners Sierra Pacific Industries and the Fruit Growers Supply Company, Shasta County government, and the Federal and State Government. The commitment to wind energy through federal ARRA grant funding and state policies helped Hatchet Ridge to reach operation and provide Californians with clean and renewable energy for generations to come."

RES America Construction, Inc. constructed the infrastructure supporting the turbines and Siemens Energy erected 44 Siemens SWT-2.3-93 wind turbines, each with an output capacity of 2.3 MW. Siemens manufactured the turbine blades at their Fort Madison, Iowa facility, and Ameron International of Fontana, California manufactured the turbine towers. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will purchase the power under a 15-year power purchase agreement.

"RES Americas is pleased to have delivered another project in California to help meet the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard goals," said Susan Reilly, CEO of RES Americas.  "We are proud to have provided economic and environmental benefits to the California communities and look forward to continuing to do so in the future."  

Hatchet Ridge Wind created approximately 200 jobs during its construction and 10 ongoing permanent positions for the operations and maintenance of the wind project, which will be supplemented periodically with local vendors and temporary staff for maintenance activities.

"The Hatchet Ridge wind farm was our first project awarded by Pattern Energy, followed by the St. Joseph wind farm in Canada. We greatly value Pattern Energy's confidence in the Siemens' wind power technologies and are pleased to partner with Pattern as they take a leadership role in providing clean energy to citizens in the Americas," said Jan Kjaersgaard, General Manager and Vice President of Siemens Energy's Wind Power Americas business. "Furthermore, we congratulate Pattern Energy for their significant achievement of completing the Hatchet Ridge project this year."

In addition to paying substantial property taxes, Hatchet Ridge Wind is investing $5 million in the local community through the Shasta County General Fund, the Burney-Fall River Education Foundation, and the Burney Regional Community Fund that is administered by the Shasta Regional Community Foundation.

ABOUT PATTERN ENERGY GROUP LP

Pattern Energy Group LP is an independent, fully integrated energy company that develops, constructs, owns, and operates renewable energy and transmission assets in the United States, Canada and Latin America. With a long history in wind energy, Pattern's highly-experienced team of scientists, engineers, construction experts, and legal and financial professionals has developed, financed and placed into operation more than 2,000 MW of wind power. Pattern's development pipeline exceeds 4,000 MW of renewable energy projects and multiple transmission projects. Pattern currently has 384.4 MW of wind energy in operation in the U.S. and 138 MW under construction in southern Manitoba, Canada. With offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Houston, New York, British Columbia and Toronto, Pattern is strongly committed to promoting environmental stewardship and is dedicated to working closely with landowners and communities to develop and operate premier renewable energy projects. For more information, please visit www.patternenergy.com.

 

SOURCE Pattern Energy Group LP