Construction begins at $200m New York wind farm

August 30, 2010

Wind developer Iberdrola Renewables has begun construction on its 74-megawatt wind project in Herkimer County, New York.

The $200 million Hardscrabble Wind Power facility is to comprise 37 wind turbines made by Gamesa USA.

With large wind turbine components now arriving each day at the site by the towns of Fairfield, Norway and Little Falls, the project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

It is one of seven wind farms Spanish-owned Iberdrola has under construction around the US.

The company said today that the Hardscrabble wind farm has already created nearly 200 construction jobs, while a staff of six will be employed to operate the site once complete.

The turbines will stand on 330 foot tall towers made in Wisconsin, while other components including the blades, nacelle and hub are being made in Gamesa’s Pennsylvania facilities.

The finished wind farm will supply electricity equivalent to the needs of more than 25,000 local homes, offsetting the equivalent pollution to 26,000 cars according to the developer.

Local landowners and communities will be benefiting from lease payments of around $650,000 a year and tax payments of around $592,000 a year escalating with inflation.

Iberdrola Renewables, which has its head office in Portland, Oregon,