Pattern Energy Signs Power Purchase and Operating Agreement with PREPA for 75 MW Wind Energy Project in Puerto Rico

SAN FRANCISCO, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern) today announced that one of its subsidiaries has entered into a 20-year power purchase and operating agreement (PPOA) with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) for the sale of 75 megawatts produced at the Pattern Santa Isabel Wind Project, a wind energy generation facility being developed by Pattern that will be located in Southern Puerto Rico in the Municipality of Santa Isabel.

The Pattern Santa Isabel Wind Project is expected to begin producing electricity in late 2011 and will generate clean, renewable energy equivalent to the power needs of up to 25,000 Puerto Rican homes. Once operational, it will be the largest wind energy project in Puerto Rico.

"We are very excited to be working with the local communities, PREPA and residents of Puerto Rico to harness its ocean driven winds into clean and renewable energy," said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Energy. "The Pattern Santa Isabel Wind Project will be a premier project that will harness the winds on the Southern side of Puerto Rico, which are consistent during the peak hours of energy consumption, making them a unique, local resource for the people of Puerto Rico. We commend PREPA and the Government for their commitment and hard work to use local resources and reduce the Island's dependence on imported energy."

"Puerto Rico is fully committed to the development of renewable energy projects as part of our Administration's overall energy reform initiative. We must diversify our sources of energy—away from our traditional dependence on crude oil—lower energy costs to consumers and businesses and protect the environment, all at the same time. A viable wind energy project would be a significant piece in our overall energy strategy," said Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuno.

PREPA's Executive Director Miguel A. Cordero said the agreement is an important step toward increasing Puerto Rico's renewable energy sources. "The Santa Isabel wind farm is an excellent opportunity to create a source of renewable energy in this area of Puerto Rico while also creating good jobs in the process."

"This is a very important project and I've been supporting it since the beginning.  Santa Isabel feels proud and happy to count with the most transcendental wind farm renewable energy project in Puerto Rico," said Honorable Enrique Questell, Mayor of Santa Isabel. "I look forward to working together with Pattern Energy to help establish their proposed wind farm in Santa Isabel and welcome their contribution to job creation in our Municipality and affordable energy prices as well as a cleaner environment for Puerto Rico."

"As part of this government's public policies regarding renewable energy projects, we are committed to collaborate in the materialization and establishment of this project in Santa Isabel.  The Pattern Santa Isabel Wind Project will be one of the pioneer renewable energy wind farms in the Island and we are very positive of the favorable impact that this project represents to Puerto Rico and its environment," expressed Javier Vazquez Morales, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company (PRIDCO).

The Pattern Santa Isabel Wind Project will create a significant number of jobs during the construction phase, as well as a number of ongoing permanent positions once operational. Pattern will begin a public outreach program in conjunction with the start of the permitting process for the Pattern Santa Isabel Wind Project.

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. Currently under construction is Pattern's 138 MW St. Joseph Wind Farm in southern Manitoba, Canada and 101.2 MW Hatchet Ridge Wind Farm near the City of Redding in Northern California. Pattern's fully operational 283.3 MW Gulf Wind project located on the Gulf Coast in South Texas is pioneering the world's first use of groundbreaking MERLIN SCADA radar technology to protect avian populations. The Pattern team also has extensive experience in developing complex transmission projects, including the Trans Bay Cable project under the San Francisco Bay. With offices in San Francisco, Houston, San Diego, New York and British Columbia, 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