ALBANY, N.Y. -- Horizon Wind Energy, one of downtown's newest and greenest tenants, has blown into town. Horizon develops, builds, owns and operates wind farms throughout the U.S., including two in northern New York. Company officials said Albany is the perfect fit.
Horizon's Director of Development Patrick Doyle said, "It's at the center of the region. It's got tremendous technology expertise. AWS Truewind, for example, is a company that we rely on heavily. MSE Power Systems, TRC Engineers, these are companies that we visit on a monthly basis."
Horizon has a long established relationship with GE which recently announced that the global headquarters for its alternative energy operation would be located in Schenectady.
The country's third largest wind energy company has opened its Northeast regional headquarters in the capital city. Horizon Wind Energy has set up shop on James Street in downtown Albany. The office will develop wind farm projects throughout New York, Pennsylvania and New England. Ryan Peterson has the story.
Sean Fitzgerald with GE Energy said, "I'm pleased today to make an announcement of a commercial agreement between GE Energy and Horizon Wind Energy for 201 1.5 megawatt wind turbines. These turbines will be delivered in the year 2010 for various projects throughout the United States."
The company operates wind farms in Lewis and Madison counties and has 1,000 megawatts worth of projects under development in western New York and the North Country.
Horizon is the ultimate "green" company -- not just good for the environment, but good for the wallet as well. Horizon's wind farms will not only generate megawatts, but mega-bucks for the communities who agree to host them.
"In exchange for being able to use the landowner's land, we pay them a royalty. In exchange for the towns hosting our wind farms, we make annual payments to the towns and we make pilot payments to the towns, county and schools. You could say we pay them for their wind," Doyle said.
According to the American Wind Energy Association, the nation's wind generated power increased by 45 percent in 2007. It represents a windfall of more than $9 billion for the economy. Wind energy now spans 34 states and generates enough electricity to power more than 4 million homes.