Northern Power Signs Strategic Agreement Focused on Implementing Wind Power in Alaska
WAITSFIELD, Vt., June 26 // -- Northern Power, a subsidiary of Distributed Energy Systems Corp. (NASDAQ:DESC), announced it has signed an agreement with two key Alaskan-based contracting firms. The agreement with construction firm STG, Inc. and engineering services firm Hattenburg Dilley & Linnell, LLC (HDL) forms the Alaska Wind Resource Group (AWRG), a cooperative effort dedicated to the turnkey installation, commissioning and service of Northern Power's NorthWind(R) 100 wind turbine systems in Alaska.
The 100-kilowatt (kW) NorthWind 100 wind turbine will be the centerpiece of AWRG's sales and business development efforts. With its direct-drive design and enclosed tower and nacelle, the NorthWind 100 is a proven solution for cold weather environments. To date, the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC) has purchased 13 NorthWind 100 turbines to generate lower cost, environmentally friendly power for a number of the 52 rural villages in its service area.
The first three turbines purchased by AVEC have been installed at Toksook Bay, with three more scheduled for installation in the village of Kasigluk this month. Northern Power supplied the turbines, as well as remote monitoring software, system controls, and engineering and wind-diesel integration services. STG, Alaska's preeminent construction management and planning firm, erected the turbines, while HDL performed civil and geotechnical engineering and permitting duties on the Kasigluk installation.
Integrated Group Offers Complete Wind Power Package
Brett Pingree, NorthWind 100 sales manager at Northern Power, stated that the successful work on the initial turbines and a positive relationship with AVEC sparked conversations between the companies. "Together, Northern Power, STG and HDL form a cohesive, tightly integrated group with practical, real- world experience in Alaska," Pingree said. "We are able to provide a superior turnkey system and excellent service, which are both critical in helping these villages avoid high fuel and maintenance costs, as well as gain greater power independence using renewable resources."
Jim St. George, president of STG agreed, adding that, "The unique combination of experience of the parties involved in the AWRG agreement gives us great confidence that we offer the best solution for remote utility customers in Alaska seeking to integrate wind power into their energy portfolios."
Local Technicians Certified to Perform Turbine Maintenance
The AWRG group has also developed a certification course for training Alaska-based technicians to service wind turbines in the field. In March 2006, an initial group of STG technicians completed the course at Northern Power's Barre, VT manufacturing facility, certifying them on the NorthWind 100 wind turbine. Having a team of local, trained experts on-site in Alaska will ensure AWRG customers receive faster response times for any maintenance and repair needs and receive improved overall customer satisfaction.
Northern Power to Host Wind Diesel Energy Conference
Building on the agreement and the group's established AVEC relationship, Northern Power will be hosting a one-day conference in Bethel, Alaska, on June 29, 2006. The conference is aimed at helping community leaders and organizations understand the opportunities, challenges, and processes involved in implementing an effective wind project. Representatives from STG, the Alaska Energy Authority, AVEC, and the Association of Village Council Presidents will attend.
The day's events will include presentations from individuals with recent experience installing wind-diesel systems, and a field trip to an actual site, where participants will have an opportunity to see first-hand how wind systems work and integrate into the broader community.
For more information on the Wind-Diesel Energy Conference, please contact Kelly Griffith at kgriffith@northernpower.com or (802) 583-7230.
About Northern Power
Northern Power designs, builds, installs and services reliable power solutions for commercial, industrial, government, and military customers worldwide. The company also conducts research and development in the areas of renewable energy, distributed generation and hydrogen technology. Northern Power was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Waitsfield, VT, with field offices in California, New York City and Houston. Northern Power is a wholly owned operating unit of Distributed Energy Systems Corp. For more information, visit http://www.northernpower.com/.
About STG
STG is dedicated to providing superior construction management and construction services throughout rural Alaska where the conditions are harsh and locations are logistically challenging. STG's services include design review, project planning support, logistical expertise, budget and schedule development, technical construction documents, and other construction management services for the successful implementation of various construction related projects. STG specializes in a wide variety of commercial construction needs including; Bulk Fuel Systems, Pile Foundations, Diesel Power Generator Facilities, Renewable Energy Systems such as Wind Generation and Waste Heat Recovery, Power Distribution, Communication Towers and Fuel and Water Pipelines. For more information please visit stginc.cc.
About HDL
Hattenburg Dilley & Linnell, LLC is a locally owned consulting firm specializing in civil, geotechnical, and transportation engineering. The company provides programming, planning, design and construction phase services on road, highway, water and wastewater, airport, bulk fuel, and site development projects for a wide range of valued clients in Alaska. As one of Alaska's best mid-sized engineering firms, HDLs' mission is to respond to the customer's needs with quality, client-focused deliverables.
Source: Distributed Energy Systems Corp.
CONTACT: Amy Klinger, Northern Power, +1-802-496-2955 ext. 7289,
aklinger@northernpower.com, for Distributed Energy Systems Corp.
Web site: http://distributed-energy.com/
http://stginc.cc/
http://www.northernpower.com/
