July 1, 2009
Suzlon Wind Turbines Constitute 30 Percent of Installed Wind Power Capacity in Oregon
Wheat Field Project Provides 97 Megawatts of Clean Wind Energy
CHICAGO (July 1, 2009) Suzlon Wind Energy Corporation will celebrate the ribbon-cutting dedication
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 of the Wheat Field Wind Farm, a project in Arlington, Ore., developed and
operated by Horizon Wind Energy, LLC. The Wheat Field project, Horizons third in the state, became
commercially operational in March of 2009 and can produce 97 megawatts (MW) of clean energy
powered by 46 Suzlon S88-2.1 MW turbines. This is enough energy to power 29,000 homes in the Pacific
Northwest for a year.
U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Chief Technical Officer of Horizon Wind Energy Ken Ripper and Chief
Operations Officer of Suzlon Wind Energy Corporation John Hewitt are all attending the dedication and
will stress the importance of wind energy and jobs in the surrounding communities.
We are proud to have supplied our S88-2.1 MW turbines for Horizons latest project, and truly value our
continued work with them, said Andy Cukurs, CEO of Suzlon Wind Energy Corp. Horizons Wheat Field
and Rattlesnake Ridge projects in Oregon highlight the quality and performance of our S88 wind turbine,
while contributing further to the states growth in wind energy capacity.
Oregon ranks sixth in the nation for wind energy capacity with 1,363 MW generated by 20 projects. With
the Wheat Field project, Suzlon has brought 190 units of the S88-2.1 MW turbines online in Oregon to
produce 400 MW of energy, accounting for 30 percent of the states installed wind power capacity.
We have been very pleased with the success of our projects with Suzlon, and are happy to provide
clean, renewable wind energy to the State of Oregon, said Gabriel Alonso, CEO of Horizon Wind Energy.
The Wheat Field Wind Farm will prevent the annual emission of approximately 70,000 tons of carbon
dioxide and 160,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide. The Snohomish County Public Utility District has been
purchasing clean electricity from this wind farm since it began commercial operations in March 2009.
Working with Horizon and other developers has given Suzlon an opportunity to not only advance the
wind turbine industry in the U.S., but also to create local jobs and support the development of wind
turbine technicians, said Cukurs.
Wind farms require ancillary workers for construction and commissioning. In Oregon specifically, Suzlon
has provided scholarship money and donated equipment for students in the wind turbine technician
program at Columbia Gorge Community College in The Dalles, Oregon, one of the leading wind technician
programs in the country.
Wind Farm Dedication Details:
This event is NOT open to the public.
WHO: United States Senator Jeff Merkley will be present to say a few words about the importance of wind energy in
the State of Oregon. Snohomish Public Utility District Commissioner, Kathy Vaughn, will discuss the benefits of
renewable energy provided to the Snohomish Public Utility District Customers. Ken Ripper, Chief Technical Officer of
Horizon Wind Energy will speak on behalf of Horizon Wind Energy about the efforts currently taking place in the
Northwest region. John Hewitt, Chief Operations Officer of Suzlon in North America, will speak about the Suzlon
turbines and presence in the community at the Wheat Field Wind Farm.
WHEN: Wednesday - July 1, 2009
11:30 - 2:30 p.m. PST
1:15 p.m. Photo Op (Senator Merkley and the Wheat Field Wind Farm team will cut the ribbon)
