Criterion Wind Project
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Renewable energy |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Oakland , United States |
Area served | Maryland, United States |
| Products | Electricity generation (wind power) |
| Owner | Criterion Power Partners, LLC (subsidiary of Exelon) |
| Parent | Exelon |
The Criterion Wind Project is a wind farm situated on Backbone Mountain to the east of Oakland, Maryland. It has a total installed capacity of 70 MW, generated by 28 Liberty Wind Turbine units manufactured by Clipper Windpower. Each turbine reaches an approximate height of 415 feet. The facility is owned by Criterion Power Partners, LLC, a subsidiary under Exelon, and is linked to the transmission network operated by Potomac Edison Company, which is part of FirstEnergy. The generated electricity along with renewable energy credits are marketed through a 20-year agreement with the Old Dominion Electric Cooperative.
History
Initially introduced in 2002 by Clipper Windpower as a 101 MW initiative featuring 67 turbines, the Criterion Wind Project secured construction authorization from the Maryland Public Service Commission in 2003 but encountered legal obstacles. Subsequent legislation enacted in 2007 simplified the permitting process for wind farms up to 70 MW, leading to a redesign that included 28 turbines rated at 2.5 MW each. Ownership transferred from Clipper to Constellation Energy, which finalized the construction phase in December 2010.
Awards and recognition
The Criterion Wind Wildlife Program was honored with The Environmental Award on June 5, 2019, during the Safety Summit held in Washington D.C., acknowledging Exelon staff’s dedication to environmental protection and safety practices. The award included a monetary prize of $7,500.
Environmental compliance
In December 2010, legal action was initiated claiming that the project required an Incidental Take Permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service due to potential effects on the endangered Indiana bat species. However, a pre-construction survey conducted over two years detected no presence of Indiana bats at the site. On July 31, 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a draft Habitat Conservation Plan outlining proposed conservation measures and opened it for public commentary until September 28, 2012. The final permitting decision was made after considering the public input.