Welcome to Stetson Wind

     Turbines:   P1-38; P2-17

     Capacity:   83 MW

     COD:          P1-Jan. 23, 2009; P2-Mar. 12, 2010

     Location:   Near Danforth, ME

The 83 MW Stetson Wind farm was completed in two phases, and remains one of the largest operational utility-scale wind farms in New England. Located in Maine’s Washington County, the combined facility can provide power for about 30,000 New England homes in a normal operating year, while avoiding 93,000 tons of CO2 emissions that would result from conventional regional generation sources.

Phase 1, completed in January of 2009, is situated on Stetson Mountain and consists of 38 operational wind turbines, with a maximum capacity of 57 MW. The second phase of the project, completed in March of 2010, added 26 MW from 17 turbines positioned on the neighboring Jimmy and Owl Mountains.

In addition to providing clean, safe power for New England, great care is taken to integrate the Stetson Wind facility into Washington County’s rolling hills with minimal impacts. First Wind’s environmental team works through rigorous permitting requirements with state agencies such as DEP and LURC, and Federal organizations like the Army Corps of Engineers. At Stetson Wind and First Wind’s other Maine projects, we maximize use of Maine’s working forests and previously existing logging roads. Permanent clearing for turbines amounts to only .25 acres per unit. Finally, First Wind environmental biologists provide ongoing wildlife and habitat monitoring in consultation with government agencies and NGOs.

First Wind has been an active member of the local community since early development began on the Stetson projects. Property tax revenues fund county infrastructure, conservation and economic development projects. Income from property leases allows landowners to harvest a new, sustainable resource, with limited impacts on the timber management industry and recreation. Finally, the project sponsors community events like the annual snowmobile rally, the East Grand Adventure Race which traverses the Stetson ridge, and annual scholarships for college-bound high school seniors from the surrounding area.