The Fire Island Wind project celebrated its one year anniversary in September, just in time to begin work on what could become the second phase of the project.
In early October, crews started clearing pads and access roads to add 11 more turbines to the island. By starting construction now, CIRI would be able to take advantage of an investment tax credit offered by the federal government that will only be available through the end of 2013. The credit would provide up to $15 million in savings, should the second phase of the project proceed.
In a review of the first year of operations, it appears the 11 turbines that make up the first phase of the project are doing exactly what they were built to do.
As of September, the turbines have produced a collective 51,800 megawatt hours of energy – just slightly above the project’s goal of 51,000 megawatt hours – and enough electricity to power 6,000 Southcentral Alaska homes, according to Suzanne Gibson, vice president of Fire Island Wind, LLC.
“It’s exactly in line with our expectations,” said Gibson.
