Wind power developer Third Planet orders 250 MW in United States

GE Energy is to deliver 167 of its 1.5 MW turbines to American wind project developer Third Planet Windpower in 2009. Third Planet, a new developer, has been quietly forming a team doing early stage development since 2006. This first turbine order, worth about $350 million, puts it firmly on the wind map. The company is lead by Peter Mastic, who co-founded Noble Environmental Power, and remains a significant shareholder. Connecticut-based Noble is focused on wind developments in the Northeast, particularly in New York (page 38). Third Planet's development footprint extends where Noble's does not: primarily the American Midwest and stretching across the country north and south to the West Coast. Both GE and Third Planet cite Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska and Wyoming as states the turbines will be heading for in 2009. Third Planet says it has 20 projects in early stage development totalling up to 7500 MW.