Washington County, Maine – September 26, 2024 – Thursday afternoon, Apex Clean Energy representatives were joined by state and local officials, business leaders, landowners, and supporters to celebrate the construction of the Downeast Wind project. After speakers highlighted the project’s investment with Maine-based businesses and significant benefits to the community, about 100 people signed their name on one of Downeast Wind’s 242-foot-long turbine blades. Attendees gathered beneath one of the newly-constructed wind turbines, now the tallest in the state, showcasing both the scale of the facility and its significance to the community as a major economic development.
“Downeast Wind has been over a decade in the making. This achievement reflects the dedication of the Apex team, the skill of our construction partners, the trust of our landowners, and the steadfast support of the local community,” said Ken Young, CEO of Apex. (pictured below) “Downeast Wind was developed, designed, and built by Mainers, and it shows in the care and focus the team brought to the work. We are grateful for the ongoing commitment of local officials in the Town of Columbia and Washington County who worked alongside us to bring this transformative economic opportunity to the region.”
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Downeast Wind is a 126-megawatt project developed by Apex, which plans to own and operate the facility when completed later this year. Apex selected Maine-based Reed & Reed as the lead contractor for the project and worked with numerous local subcontractors and suppliers throughout construction, including Sargent (Orono, ME), Comprehensive Land Tech (China, ME), and Owen J. Folsom, Inc. (Old Town, ME), among others.
“Thank you to Apex Clean Energy for selecting us to build this important project and thank you for investing in Maine. We are grateful for the work, and I know our subcontractors and supply chain of over 200 Maine businesses are also grateful,” said Jack Parker, Chairman and CEO of Reed & Reed. “I could not be prouder of the work we do in terms of safety, quality, performance and environmental stewardship and doing our part to help Maine transition to clean, renewable power.”
Downeast Wind will generate significant economic benefits for the State of Maine. Over 250 workers have been on site to support construction, over 75% of whom reside in the state. The project relies heavily on local contractors, with over $108 million spent with Maine businesses to date during construction. This includes local concrete providers, road and civil contractors, site preparation, and transportation of the wind turbines themselves, which contain multiple U.S.-manufactured components. Components have been transported by rail or sea through Mack Point Terminal in Searsport.
“Downeast Wind will be a valuable asset to Washington County and to the State of Maine, generating clean energy in our own backyard while creating good paying local jobs and significant tax revenue for Columbia and Washington County,” said Dan Burgess, Director of the Maine Governor’s Energy Office. “I congratulate Apex Clean Energy on this major achievement, which will bring economic development and stable energy supply while reducing our reliance on expensive, imported fossil fuels that drive climate change.”
The project will also provide a revenue boost to Washington County and the Town of Columbia through revenue agreements approved with the local governments. Under the plan, Downeast Wind is expected to generate more than $20 million in new revenue for local projects and priorities.
“Downeast Wind is creating a new source of funding that can support our roads, fire protection, ambulance services, and other important services, making us less reliant on property taxes and relieving that pressure on our residents,” said Town of Columbia Selectman Sonny Beal.
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“Downeast Wind is the largest single investment in western Washington County in generations, and it is exciting to see it taking shape,” said Charles Rudelitch, Executive Director of the Sunrise County Economic Council. (pictured above) “This wind farm will provide year-round jobs and millions in tax revenue and community benefits payments that will support students and small businesses and help rebuild critical public infrastructure."
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The project has also made long term investments in community organizations through Apex’s community grant program, which has awarded more than $90,000 in funding to date for local non-profits and causes, including a $15,000 grant to the Harrington Family Health Center that was presented during the ceremony. Additionally, through Apex’s conservation grant program, Downeast Wind is partnering with Project SHARE to enhance 1.5 miles of in-stream habitat for the endangered Atlantic salmon in riverine systems within the Downeast Wind project area.
The project is expected to reach commercial operations by the end of 2024.
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