Published: June 04, 2008 11:58 am      

Developer contracts with Delmarva Power for wind energy

CUMBERLAND - Though two Synergics wind turbine projects in Garrett County have not yet been filed with the Maryland Public Service Commission, the energy expected to be produced by them has already been put under contract.

"We are excited to work with Delmarva to bring this project to fruition," Wayne Rogers, the chairman of Synergics, said. "As Maryland's first utility wind project, this step is further evidence that Western Maryland can help to meet our region's growing need for power. We are proud to be providing both a solution to our energy needs and addressing the pressing issue of global warming."

Delmarva Power and Light Co. is a subsidiary of PEPCO Holdings Inc. and operates in Delaware and Maryland as a regulated electric distribution utility company. Annapolis-based Synergics announced on Tuesday that it has signed two contracts with the company for the sale of the wind energy.

The contracts signed are for a proposed Synergics project on Roth Rock bordering Mettiki Coal Co. on Backbone Mountain, according to Frank Maisano, wind-power industry spokesman. This project is expected to begin delivering 40 megawatts of power in September 2009.

The second Synergics project will likely be on Four Mile Ridge near Avilton, where Synergics has meteorological towers situated to study the wind potential there, Maisano said. This project is expected to produce 60 megawatts of power by December 2010.

Both projects are planned for construction this fall, but have yet to file for an exemption from the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity process. Under new legislation, the projects could qualify for the exemption, as they each would produce less than 70 megawatts of power.

This purchase agreement between Synergics and Delmarva would be the first signed wind project in Maryland.

"Delmarva is committed to providing cost-effective and reliable power to our Delaware customers while protecting the environment," Gary Stockbridge, Delmarva Power president, said. "We are pleased to enter into these agreements for renewable energy and be the catalyst toward helping develop this clean source of energy."

Contact Sarah Moses at smoses@times-news.com.