“This is an historic moment for the University of Maine at Presque Isle, one that encompasses both our efforts to make wind energy generation on campus a reality and our willingness to serve as a leader on the community wind project front,” President Don Zillman said. “With this agreement, we not only will be decreasing our carbon footprint, but also serving our role as an educational, community and statewide leader in green power use. We couldn’t be more excited.”
This agreement establishes UMPI as the first university in the state and one of only a handful in New England to install a mid-size wind turbine.
University and Lumus Construction Inc. officials will host a press conference at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 24 in the Campus Center to announce project details and host a formal contract signing ceremony. All are invited to attend this important occasion.
University officials announced in May 2007 their intentions to build a wind turbine on campus. They anticipate that the 600 kW turbine to be installed will produce about 1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year and save the institution more than $100,000 annually in electricity charges. Once fully operation, the turbine is expected to save an estimated 572 tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere each year.
Lumus Construction Inc. is a general, mechanical and electrical contracting organization with main offices in Woburn, Mass., and Portland, Maine. The company will begin work immediately at the turbine site, located adjacent to the university’s athletic fields on the southern end of campus.
For more information, please contact the Media Relations Office at 768-9452.
