Third Planet Windpower Selects GE Energy's 1.5-Megawatt Wind Turbines for 2009 Projects
Contract Totals More Than $350 Million
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - October 22, 2007 : - GE Energy has received a contract of more than $350 million to supply 167 of its 1.5-megawatt wind turbines to Third Planet Windpower, LLC, a developer of wind projects throughout the United States.
The new machines will be used in one or more new wind farms Third Planet Windpower is developing in Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska and Wyoming that will be ready for turbines in 2009. The turbines purchased from GE will have the capacity to serve about 60,000 to 75,000 typical U.S. households.
"Our 1.5-megawatt wind turbine technology continues to be selected for projects across the U.S., to help meet the growing demand for cleaner, wind-generated electricity," said Victor Abate, vice president-renewables for GE Energy. "To date, more than 6,500 of these machines have been shipped or committed for projects worldwide."
When GE Energy recently was named as the recipient of the 2007 Frost & Sullivan North American Wind Power Growth Strategy Award, the global growth consulting company noted that GE's 1.5-megawatt wind turbine "has gained a reputation as the industry standard. This turbine has been highly effective in virtually all terrain and climate environments."
Wind turbine suppliers today are facing a heavy demand for their equipment. By signing the purchase agreement with GE Energy now, Third Planet Windpower is assured that the turbines will be available for the 2009 projects. The machines will be manufactured at GE's facilities in Greenville, S.C. with shipments beginning in May of 2009.
Third Planet Windpower (TPW) was established in 2006 to develop, acquire, own and operate a diversified portfolio of wind generation assets. The company has 20 projects under development, comprising more than 7,500 megawatts.
"TPW is pleased to have made this initial purchase of GE wind turbines and related services," said Peter J. Mastic, CEO of Third Planet Windpower. "The GE wind turbines have proven to be reliable in a wide variety of wind regimes that match those being developed by TPW, and we appreciate GE's commitment to expanding its production and continuing to refine and support its products."
GE's wind turbine technology is a key element of ecomagination, the GE corporate-wide initiative to address challenges such as the need for cleaner, more efficient sources of energy, reduced emissions and abundant sources of clean water.
About GE Energy
GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2006 revenue of $19 billion. Based in Atlanta, Ga., GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.
With wind turbine design, manufacturing and assembly facilities in Germany, Spain, China, Canada and the United States, GE Energy is among the leading providers of wind energy products and support services ranging from commercial wind turbines and grid integration products to project development assistance and operation and maintenance. The company's knowledge base includes the development and/or installation of more than 7,500 wind turbines with a total rated output of more than 9,800 megawatts.
About Third Planet Windpower
Third Planet Windpower (www.thirdplanetwind.com) has offices in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Sweetwater, Texas, Bad Axe, Michigan and San Ramon, California, and is developing projects in more than a dozen states in the western two-thirds of the United States. Third Planet Windpower is committed to reducing the nation's reliance on fossil fuels by generating clean, renewable energy.
For more information, contact:
Kristin Schwarz
GE Energy
+1 518 385 7343
kristin.schwarz@ge.com
Ken Darling or Howard Masto
Masto Public Relations
+1 518 786 6488
kenneth.darling@ge.com
howard.masto@ge.com
