Marblehead Municipal Light Department is entering into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with two Maine onshore wind projects.
The PPA is being facilitated through MMLD’s joint action agency, the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company. MMWEC’s Board of Directors has authorized the organization to proceed with executing contracts for the wind energy and associated renewable energy credits.
Under the deal, MMLD will contract for energy from Stetson Wind I and II, located in Danforth, Washington County, Maine. Stetson Wind I is a 38-turbine, 57-megawatt project which reached commercial operation in 2009. Stetson Wind II is a 17-turbine, 25.5 MW project which reached commercial operation in 2010. The projects are owned and operated by TerraForm Power. MMLD will contract for 1,764 Megawatt hours per year for five years, beginning in January 2026.
“Through our partnership with MMWEC, MMLD is able to leverage greater buying power in contracts like this one with Stetson Wind, which is a critical component of our strategy to provide reliable, affordable power for our customers,” said Jon Blair, general manager of MMLD.
The other municipal light plants participating in PPAs for Stetson Wind output through MMWEC include the MLPs located in the communities of Boylston, Groton, Holyoke, Ipswich, Peabody, Princeton, Shrewsbury, Sterling, Templeton, Wakefield and West Boylston. In total, the 12 MLPs will contract for approximately 12 MW/42,196 megawatt hours (MWh) of capacity from Stetson Wind I and II. MMWEC’s offtake represents 18.6% of Stetson I and 20% of Stetson II.
The agreement provides participating MLPs with unit-specific wind power and the associated unit-specific Class I renewable energy credits. The Stetson projects are strong inland wind resources, operating at a capacity factor of approximately 40%.
