Governor Schweitzer Celebrates Completion of Glacier Wind Project

Governor Schweitzer Celebrates Completion of Glacier Wind Project

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By KFBB News Team

Story Published: Oct 21, 2009 at 10:30 PM MDT

Story Updated: Oct 21, 2009 at 10:30 PM MDT

After years of planning and work, construction of the Glacier Wind Project is officially completed. Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer was in Glacier County today, to celebrate this achievement, as well as to look forward to the future of wind energy in the Treasure State.

With the crew cranking out one wind turbine every two weeks, the construction portion of Glacier Project 1 and Glacier Project 2 is now complete. And that means 140 turbines are operational, producing 210 megawatts of energy, enough power for 60,000 homes.

The Governor was on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony with energy company NaturEner, which contracted the project. Each turbine stands at 262 feet, and weighs nearly half a million pounds.

"This was a huge success,” said Ken Young of NaturEner. “This was our first project in the United States. It's good for NaturEner and good for Montana."

The completion of the project is a clear success. But Governor Schweitzer wants this to just be the beginning. He wants more wind power in Montana.

"We want Montana to be number one,” Schweitzer said. “We are the fastest growing wind power state in the country."

Located between Shelby and Cut Bank, south of Etheridge, this project will boost property tax revenues in Glacier and Toole counties, as well as provide jobs and clean energy for the area.

The turbines each have a lifespan of up to 30 years. Now that the project's construction is completed, year-round maintenance will begin by a crew of about 18.

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