U of Delaware get state’s first community wind project

A NY state-based community wind company has completed its largest project to date, a 2 MW wind turbine at the University of Delaware’s Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes.  The  project, assisted by Sustainable Energy Developments Inc (SED), in Ontario, NY, created the first community wind turbine in the state and combines university level research, as part of the university’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment (CEOE), with the financial, energy and environmental benefits of wind power.

The project completed in early June 2010 following the commissioning and electrical interconnection of a 2-MW Gamesa wind turbine.  The culmination of the project was celebrated at a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The university’s CEOE Dean, Nancy Targett, began her pursuit of a wind project in March of 2008 when she hired SED to perform an economic and technical assessment of the Lewes campus. The company helped define the college’s opportunity and convinced university officials to develop the project. SED was then tasked with protecting the interest of the university and guiding the project through the development stages.  The company’s assistance included permitting, detailed engineering, turbine procurement negotiations, electrical interconnection, construction, and commissioning.  SED also provided assistance in fulfilling the requirements of the National Environmental Protection Act necessary to secure federal funding support for the wind turbine.