Monmouth University Becomes First in New Jersey to Buy Wind Energy

Pioneering Purchase of Wind Energy Will Lead to New Wind Facilities

[Originally from Monmouth University web site] Monmouth University today committed to purchasing more than five percent of its energy needs from pollution-free wind energy. The school is the first institute of higher learning in New Jersey to buy wind energy. Monmouth has agreed to purchase one million kilowatt-hours per year for a five year term from Community Energy, Inc., a leading green energy marketing and development firm.

“I believe our decision will protect the health of our community, preserve our natural resources, and may influence other institutions of higher learning to follow our example and purchase wind energy for their electrical needs,” said Rebecca Stafford, president of Monmouth University. “This is in keeping with our commitment of service in the public interest, and the enhancement of the quality of life, as our mission statement directs us.”

The electricity will first be supplied by the Mountaineer Wind Energy Center, the largest wind generating facility in the Eastern United States. Monmouth’s wind supply will then be transferred to New Jersey’s first commercial-scale wind power facility – the Jersey-Atlantic Wind Project, to be located north of Atlantic City, this fall. Visible from downtown Atlantic City and the AC Expressway, the Jersey-Atlantic Wind Project will be the first coastal wind farm in the U.S. The project will consist of five 220-foot-tall wind turbines and is expected to commence operation in late 2003.

Community Energy, Inc. (CEI) is the exclusive marketer for the Mountaineer and Jersey-Atlantic facilities. Brent Alderfer, CEI president, said, “Monmouth University has displayed vision and leadership with this wind energy purchase. Not only is Monmouth way out front on this issue, but Monmouth’s commitment will directly drive the development of new, state-of-the-art wind energy facilities in the mid-Atlantic region.”

Herb Simmens, executive director of New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (NJHEPS), said, “We are delighted that Monmouth University has taken the lead in purchasing clean wind energy for its campus. Wind power, as a renewable and inexhaustible supply of energy, is a key strategy for reducing our greenhouse gases in New Jersey. The New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability worked with Monmouth and the other 55 campuses in New Jersey to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 3.5% by 2005 compared to 1990. This is a wonderful and important step towards meeting that goal.”

Monmouth University’s wind purchase was recognized this past weekend by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Clean Air Council at the ‘5-K Run for Clean Air’ in Philadelphia. The Clean Air Council’s Wind Campaign director, Thurm Brendlinger, stated, “Monmouth’s leadership in New Jersey is a boost to wind energy throughout the mid-Atlantic region. We hope other New Jersey schools will follow their lead and support new wind power projects.”

About Monmouth University:
Located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, Monmouth University is a leading comprehensive, private institution that offers coeducational undergraduate and graduate degrees and 50 distinctive curricular programs. Sprawled across a magnificent, historic campus, the University is approximately 50 miles from Manhattan and Philadelphia and is within walking distance to the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. Monmouth University combines the state-of-the-art facilities and vibrant environment of a large institution with the individual attention of a small, liberal arts college. For more information, visit Monmouth University on the World Wide Web at

About Community Energy, Inc. (CEI):
Community Energy, Inc. (CEI) is the leading marketer of wind-generated electricity, under the NewWind Energy TM brand. CEI customers include seven of the eight largest retail purchasers of wind-generated electricity in the nation. More information is available at www.NewWindEnergy.com.

About New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (NJHEPS):
NJHEPS is a four-year-old partnership of 30 New Jersey higher education institutions working to transform their campuses into models of sustainability...in curriculum, clean energy, greenhouse gas reduction, high performance green design buildings, and environmentally friendly purchasing. NJHEPS, of which Monmouth is a member, encourages campuses to create sustainability teams of students, faculty, and staff to achieve these goals.

About the Mountaineer Wind Energy Center:
The project, located in West Virginia, is the largest wind power project east of the Mississippi River. Each of the 1.5 megawatt turbines is 200 feet tall, with 100-foot blades. Exelon Power Team, based in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, agreed to purchase all of the electricity produced by the wind turbines for 20 years, allowing the project to go forward. The project operator/owner is FPL Energy, the largest U.S. generator of wind power. It currently has more than 20 wind farms in nine states.

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