Island plan for 150 MW wind project

A plan by EPV Tuulivoima (EPVT) to build a 150 MW wind farm on the island of Mustasaari, in western Finland, has moved a step further, with the company securing 50-year land lease agreements with landowners for the project. The wind farm will comprise 40-45 turbines. "We are now in a position to start the licensing and planning stages of the project, as well as the environment impact assessment," says EPVT's Tomi Mäkipelto. The company hopes to start site work on the project by August 2009, with completion slated for July 2010. It expects to make a decision on the turbine supplier by March. Finland's Winwind, which has previously been used by EPV as turbine supplier, is believed to be the lead contender for the contract.