WHAT: Public officials, environmental advocates and energy industry representatives join the Lewis County community for a dedication of the new Maple Ridge Wind Farm in Lowville, New York. The project is owned by PPM Energy and Horizon Wind Energy.

The wind farm area includes the towns of Martinsburg, Lowville, Watson and Harrisburg in Lewis County on the Tug Hill Plateau, about 75 miles northeast of Syracuse. The Maple Ridge project has been named to honor the maple sugaring tradition in Lewis County, the leading maple syrup producing county in New York. The first phase of Maple Ridge is 231 megawatts (MW), using 140 1.65 MW Vestas turbines. Additional turbines under construction for Phase 2 will bring the total to 195 turbines producing 320 MW of electricity, enough to power up 160,000 average New York households.

Maple Ridge has increased the amount of wind power in New York by six-fold, a state with a 25 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) designed to be in full effect by 2013, one of the most aggressive such policies in the nation.

New York children who have been learning about wind energy in school will participate in the dedication.

Please note this event is NOT open to the public.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006
9:30 a.m. The Lowville Village Band performs
10:30 a.m. program begins with music from the Lowville Academy & Central School Faculty & Student Select Chorus
11:30 a.m. lunch, turbine tours and showing of documentary "Tapping Maple Ridge"

WHERE: In Lowville, 75 miles from Syracuse. See directions in Logistics section below.

WHY: The Maple Ridge Wind Farm is expected to produce enough clean, renewable wind electricity to power two percent of all of New York State's residential energy needs each year. Maple Ridge Wind Farm provides many benefits, such as:

-- New York has outlined a need for new energy resources, including wind power. Maple Ridge will help meet these needs for at least the next 30 years using New York wind to serve New York customers.

-- PPM Energy and Horizon Wind Energy recently completed the Maple Ridge Wind Farm in Lowville, NY, to serve increasing demand for clean, renewable generation resources and to help New York cope with fuel price volatility and greenhouse gases.

-- Jobs and economic activity have been created in the region and Lewis County will benefit from approximately $8 million a year in tax revenues produced by the project.

-- More than 75 area landowners receive $2 million a year in land lease payments -- yet the land remains available for farming and grazing.

-- Further economic stimulus comes from shipments of specialized wind turbine parts through Great Lakes shipping ports.

-- The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has selected five power-generation producers, including the Maple Ridge Wind Farm, to provide power in the form of renewable energy, or "green" power, in the first phase of the Renewable Portfolio Standard Program.

WHO: The following community leaders and energy experts will speak:

State Senator Ray Meiers
Terry Thisse -- Supervisor of the Town of Martinsburg
Arleigh Rice -- Supervisor of the Town of Lowville
Norm Roof -- Supervisor of the Town of Harrisburg
Tom Schneeberger with Lowville Academy students who illustrated book about wind power called "Catch the Wind -- Spin, Spin, Spin"
Teachers Deborah Yancey and Jeff Gleason with Lowville Academy students who built their own windmills
Carl Stone, Farmer/Poet
Don Furman -- Senior Vice President, PPM Energy
Michael Skelly -- Chief Development Officer, Horizon Wind Energy
Peter R. Smith -- President and CEO, NYSERDA
Carol Murphy -- Alliance for Clean Energy New York
Kit Kennedy -- Natural Resources Defense Council
Bill Burke -- Lowville landowner

VISUALS:

A total of 194 white wind turbines the size of 30-story buildings set on rolling farmland

-- Tours inside a wind turbine tower
-- Display of the work of early participants in wind power photo contest sponsored by the Lowville Business Association
-- Illustrations from a children's storybook about wind power created by Lowville fourth graders
-- Showing of "Tapping Maple Ridge," a documentary about Maple Syrup, Wind and Community
-- Picnic lunch

LOGISTICS:

The Maple Ridge Wind Farm is approximately three hours from Albany and an hour-and-a-half hour from Syracuse.

From Syracuse (about 2 hours): Take I-81 North towards Watertown, exit NY-177 (exit 42), Smithville/Adams Center. Turn right onto NY-177, continue for 24 miles. Take a right onto Eagle Factory Road. Follow signs to parking and event.

From Albany (about 2 3/4 hours): Take I-90/New York State Thruway West towards Buffalo. Exit I-790 West (exit 31), travel one mile to NY-12 North. Continue on NY-12 to NY-177 for approximately 57 miles. Take a left onto Eagle Factory Road. Follow signs to parking and event.

This is a rural site at a time of year when the weather can be unpredictable, so we encourage all attendees to dress properly and to wear shoes or boots with good traction.

Photographers and other media may collect advance video and photography from 1:00-3:00 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 25. High-resolution still photos on CD and video B-roll in beta SP format will be available.