The town of Moscow, in the heart of western Maine, was once home to the Moscow Over-the-Horizon (OTH) Backscatter Radar Base. Built and commissioned by General Electric Aerospace in 1990, the United States Air Force operated this base as an early-warning detection hub for aircraft and missile threats. Although the base was deactivated in 2002, leaving some buildings abandoned, its legacy has been redefined.

Today, the site has undergone a remarkable transformation, symbolizing a shift from air defense to energy sustainability. This transformation is being driven by the Western Maine Renewables project team.

In 2012, the United States General Services Administration auctioned the 1,400-acre base. It was sold to Western Maine Renewables, a partnership between Cianbro and Patriot Renewables (solely owned by Jay Cashman, Inc.), with the vision to build a sustainable wind farm. Over the next several years, industry turbine efficiencies continuously improved, leading to a viable wind project. In 2019, the development team reverse engineered the design to maximize proposed wind farm generation and minimize the resulting upgrades needed to the existing electrical grid. With a workable project plan, the permit process commenced and was approved in 2022 along with the ISO New England Interconnection Agreement.

Team members on the Moscow Wind project wrapped up 2024 by completing the transportation, erection, and mechanical closeout of 14 Vestas V150 wind turbines. This achievement did not come without challenges. The construction crews faced harsh weather conditions, most notably high wind speeds, which occasionally delayed crews from safely completing work. Beyond the environmental challenges, crews faced numerous obstacles with tower design and configuration. The team overcame these obstacles by working closely with the Vestas team to ensure safe and expedited solutions.

As of spring 2025, the turbines are fully erected, mechanically complete, and undergoing commissioning by Vestas. The wind farm can generate 58.8 megawatts of renewable energy, providing a cleaner and more sustainable power source for Maine's energy grid. Standing at 344 feet at the top of the turbine and 591 feet at the blade tip, these are among the largest turbines constructed in Maine.

In tandem with the turbine construction, significant progress has been made at the Chase Pond Switchyard and the Western Maine Renewables collector substation. The completion of electrical work and testing at these facilities marks another major achievement, showcasing the collective effort of all stakeholders.

Additionally, the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) building, one of the original radar site buildings, has been renovated and will now be powered entirely by the wind farm. The building communicates with all towers and the collector substation, allowing real-time monitoring of tower conditions and power output. Such innovations ensure the success of the wind turbine park through efficient and secure operation.

A key enhancement to the site is the installation of the Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS). The system, comprised of two 100-foot towers, provides continuous visibility while minimizing light pollution.

Click here to read the full 2025 Chatter publication.