The state of Colorado's first wind farm began generating electricity for green power consumers last week, as Phase I of the Ponnequin wind facility in the northeast part of the state commenced power for Public Service Company of Colorado's Windsource program.

When construction of the project is complete next spring, more than 14.7 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity will help electrify thousands of homes pollution-free.

"This is an exciting and proud time for the state of Colorado, as consumers are given the choice to purchase local renewable wind power, while contributing to a more sustainable environment and economy in the region," says Randall Swisher, executive director of the American Wind Energy Association.

Residential customers can buy wind energy for their homes in "blocks" on a monthly basis from the Denver-based Public Service Co and from Holy Cross Energy of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, a wholesale customer of Public Service Co. One block consists of 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity and costs $2.50 a month above existing residential rates.

On average, one U.S. household uses about 600 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month. Buying one block of power from these green energy programs each month for a year has the same environmental benefits as not driving a car 2,400 miles or planting a half-acre of trees.

But not everyone enrolled is receiving the benefits of Ponnequin's green power just yet. Only five megawatts of the proposed 14.7 MW is on line. Some 2,000 of 9,000 Public Service Co customers who signed up for the Windsource program--including Governor Roy Romer--are receiving the electricity. A slightly larger proportion of Holy Cross's green power subscribers--about 30% of a total of 700 registered--are receiving Ponnequin power.

Phase II of the Ponnequin wind farm, which includes an additional 14 turbines, is still under construction, but is expected to begin feeding power to the electricity grid and the remaining green power enrollees by next spring.

"We've laid the foundations (for Phase II), and new equipment is arriving every day," said Phil Criste, project manager for Public Service Co. "Phase II begins now with plans to have 10 wind machines in the ground by the end of the year and four more added in the spring, to make a total of 21 turbines."

"NEG Micon is proud to be involved with this monumental wind energy facility," said Leif Andersen, sales director for NEG Micon USA, Inc. "Working with the electric utilities to help provide their consumers with low-cost, environmentally-friendly and efficient power is our number one goal. And I think we have done well in meeting those goals and expectations."

"Meeting customer needs is our company's number one priority," said Andy Sulkko, renewable energy product manager for Public Service Co. "We know that a significant number of our customers want renewable energy sources developed within Colorado. Through Windsource we're responding to our customers."

"We are quite pleased with customer interest in renewable power," said David Church, marketing specialist for Holy Cross Energy. "This program has been a good match between customers who want wind power, and all groups working to help supply it."

Colorado is a state with tremendous, and currently underexploited, wind resources. According to a Pacific Northwest Laboratory study, Colorado's winds could generate 481 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, or enough to serve several times the entire state's population.

In related Public Service Co wind energy news, the company expects to make an announcement in late February 1999 regarding a request for proposals (RFP) for an additional 25 MW of wind power.

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