NewPage & Wind Power

For Immediate Release
US Wind Force Files Notice of Intent with Public Service Commission of West Virginia
WEXFORD, PA, January 30, 2009 - US Wind Force, LLC, has filed a Thirty-Day Notice of Intent with the Public Service Commission (PSC) of West Virginia. The notice begins the process necessary to obtain a siting certificate for its proposed Mineral County wind project.
The “Pinnacle Wind Farm at NewPage” project is comprised of 23 turbines to be located on Green Mountain, near Keyser. The turbines will generate approximately 55 megawatts—169 million-kilowatt hours annually—of energy. This translates to enough power for over 14,000 households annually. The cost to construct the project is estimated at $120 million. Property taxes generated in Mineral County are projected at $373,000 annually, placing it among the County’s largest taxpayers. The company also plans to establish a community benefit fund that will provide locally controlled financial resources for community projects. Taxes, lease payments, and the community benefit fund will average to $2.3 million per year over the first 25 years of operation, with $1.6 million per year of that staying right here in West Virginia.
“At a time when the costs of all energy resources are soaring, the project will make a positive contribution to the local community, its economy and the nation,” said David McAnally, US Wind Force Chairman and CEO.
NewPage Corporation, the largest coated paper manufacturer in North America, is partnering with US Wind Force on this project. Six of the turbines will be located on NewPage property adjacent to the company’s Luke, Maryland facility. "NewPage is proud to partner strategically with US Wind Force, especially during a time when our country is facing significant energy challenges. This partnership is an example of our commitment to support the growth of sustainable energy and is consistent with our goal to continuously explore renewable energy opportunities for our facilities," said David Bonistall, vice president, Environmental, Health and Safety for NewPage.
As part of the project planning, the company established a Community Advisory Panel (CAP) to create ongoing dialogue with community members from Keyser, New Creek, Piedmont and Elk Garden. Members continue to meet monthly to discuss the project and its progress. In addition to meeting with CAP members, US Wind Force has met with local civic and service organizations in Mineral County and conducted project open houses.
To learn more about the Pinnacle Project, please visit the Web site www.uswindforce.com. Project area residents may stop by one of the community information repositories located at the Keyser Public Library, the Elk Garden Community School and the Piedmont Public Library. A toll-free project line, 1-866-929-4429, is available to anyone with questions about the project.
US Wind Force, LLC, based in Wexford Pennsylvania, is a privately held developer of utility-scale wind energy projects. It develops projects through a joint development arrangement with Edison Mission Energy (EMG) based in Irvine, California. EMG manages the competitive power generation business of Edison International, an electric power generator and distributor, and an investor in infrastructure and renewable energy projects. The company currently has a portfolio of 1,200 megawatts of wind power capacity, either in operation or under construction, at 25 projects in nine states, including Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.