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Tug Hill is in many respects
the ideal location for New York's largest wind energy
project. This site consists of approximately 12,000
acres of hilltop pasture and feed-crop land at an average
elevation of 1600-1800 feet. Tug Hill is an ancient
geologic formation that lies just downwind of the eastern
shore of Lake Ontario, separated from the Adirondacks
to the east by the Black River Valley. At a maximum
elevation of 2000 feet above sea level, the Tug Hill
plateau experiences strong lake-effect weather patterns
and has long been known for its exceptional wind resource.
The use of renewable energy sources such as wind power
for the commercial generation of electric power is an
explicit energy policy objective of New York State.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
(NYSERDA), for example, has a program designed to invest
some of the proceeds of the System Benefits Charges
in commercial wind projects, and the Maple Ridge Wind
Farm has been chosen for funding
by NYSERDA under this program. More recently, Governor
Pataki has instructed the Public Service Commission to
develop regulations that will require all electric utilities
to substantially increase their sourcing of power derived
from renewable energy sources. The goal: for 25%
of New York's electricity to come from renewable energy
by 2010.
Horizon and PPM Energy
commenced construction on Phase 1 of
the Maple Ridge project in the spring of 2005. The first turbine began producing electricity in December 2005, and 198 MW will be on-line in January 2006.
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