[BCNnet] Fwd: ComEd and Illinois Wind Energy Announce Plans for Illinois' First Commer...

[Birdchris@aol.com]

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It's time for Illinois birders to start thinking some more and seriously 
about wind energy and the potential hazards to birds. Just throwing this 
press release out to spark discussion.

Christine Williamson
Chicago/Cook
birdchris@aol.com

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Subject: ComEd and Illinois Wind Energy Announce Plans for Illinois' First Commercial...
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 ComEd and Illinois Wind Energy Announce Plans for Illinois' First Commercial
                                  Wind Farm

Agreement Puts Illinois on Forefront, Turning Wind Into Usable Electricity For
                                 Chicago Area

    CHICAGO, June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- ComEd, Illinois Wind Energy (IWE) and
Tomen Power Corporation (TPC) today announced plans for creating the first
commercial wind farm in Illinois.  The Crescent Ridge wind energy project will
become one of the largest wind farms east of the Mississippi River and will
generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 20,000 Illinois homes.
    Under the agreement, ComEd will purchase the entire output of the 51
megawatt wind generating facility.  ComEd is adding this renewable resource to
its supply portfolio, available to serve its customers.
    "Wind power is a desirable alternate source of energy because it is
renewable and environmentally friendly," said Arlene Juracek, ComEd vice
president of regulatory and strategic services.  "ComEd is excited to help
pave the way for turning the dream of wind power into reality for the people
of Illinois."
    The Crescent Ridge wind energy project will be located across 2,200 acres
of farmland in Bureau County, Illinois, though the wind turbine facilities
themselves will actually take up less than 20 acres of land. All the land can
continue to be farmed, except what is needed for the wind facilities
themselves.  The project will be built near Tiskilwa, approximately 110 miles
west of Chicago, and is expected to be completed in mid 2003.
    IWE and TPC are co-owners and co-developers of the Crescent Ridge wind
power project. TPC, which is financing the project, is a subsidiary of Tomen
Power Holding Company, one of the world's largest wind power developers.
    "This project puts Illinois Wind Energy at the forefront of
commercial-scale wind development in Illinois," said Stefan Noe, president of
IWE.  "The power purchase agreement with ComEd provides the economic assurance
to make this project possible.  ComEd has not only made a significant
commitment to help bring the Crescent Ridge wind project to life, but also is
making a significant commitment to the environment and Illinois' future."
    In addition to reaching the power purchase agreement announced today,
ComEd has already shown its commitment to renewable resources through its
contribution of $225 million in start-up capital for Illinois Clean Energy
Community Trust, which is used to finance energy efficiency initiatives,
renewable energy resources and other environmental programs. And today's
announcement follows on the heels of the Midwest Renewable Energy Workshop,
co-sponsored by ComEd, which concluded Tuesday at Illinois Institute of
Technology in Chicago.
    "Illinois is positioned to be a leader in renewable resources, especially
with respect to wind generation," Juracek said. "ComEd is proud to be part of
making this opportunity a business reality."
    NEG Micon, whose U.S. operations are headquartered in Rolling Meadows,
Illinois, has been selected as the preferred supplier of 34 new, 1.5 MW wind
energy generating turbines.  The turbines will stand 380 feet high from the
base to the tip of the blade, and will have three-blade rotors that extend 235
feet in diameter.  Crescent Ridge is considered one of the best sites for wind
power in the state with average wind speeds in excess of 17 miles per hour at
the center of the rotor.
    The wind farm will employ new wind turbine technology that allows for
effective electricity generation at lower speeds than normally found at other
wind farms across the nation. Recent studies by the U.S. Department of
Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory as well as the American Wind
Energy Association have shown that parts of Illinois, particularly
northwestern Illinois, are suitable for wind energy projects.

    About Commonwealth Edison
    Commnwealth Edison is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation
(NYSE: EXC), one the nation's largest electric utilities with more than
$15 billion in revenues and a customer base of five million. ComEd provides
service to more than 3.4 million customers across Northern Illinois, or 70
percent of the state's population.

    About Illinois Wind Energy
    Illinois Wind Energy (IWE) is an Illinois limited liability company formed
in September 2000 for the purpose of developing utility-scale wind farm
projects in Illinois.  IWE's owners have taken their experience in the wind
power and energy industries and formed strategic partnerships with other
companies to ensure our wind power projects are successful.  The goal of IWE
is to be the leading developer of wind power generating facilities in
Illinois.

    About Tomen Power Corporation
    Tomen Power Corporation (TPC) is the subsidiary of Tomen Power Holdings
Corporation, one of the world's largest wind power developers, with operating
facilities accounting for approximately 5% of the world's total wind power
generation capacity.  In 1987, Tomen first began its wind power generation
plant in California with a generating capacity of 5 MWs, and today operates
more than 20 wind farms in Europe, the United States and Japan with a combined
output capacity of 1,400 MWs including projects under development.  Tomen
intends to secure financing and provide the necessary investment capital to
the Crescent Ridge Windpower Project.

    NEG Micon
    NEG Micon features a 20-year track record with its core competencies in
wind turbine supply, installation, operation, service and maintenance of wind
power plants.  NEG Micon North America builds wind power plants ranging from
1MW to more than 100MW in size.  Since 1997, the company has supplied
technology to the U.S. and Canadian markets valued at over $500 million,
representing 715 turbines and over 560 MW of nameplate capacity.

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SOURCE  Commonwealth Edison
    -0-                             06/26/2002
    /CONTACT:  Tim Lindberg of Commonwealth Edison, +1-312-394-3500/
    /Web site:  http://www.exeloncorp.com /
    (EXC)


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