Wind farm sold to Danish company
Fate of agreement to purchase city-owned building uncertain
Staff writer
Expedition Wind’s southern Marion County wind farm operations have been purchased by Orsted, a multinational energy company based in Denmark.
Orsted is the largest energy company in Denmark, with revenue of $8.56 billion in 2020.
It has two offshore wind farms in operation and seven more offshore projects in varying stages of development in the United States.
It operates seven other onshore wind farms in the U.S. and has three more, not counting Expedition, under construction.
It also has four solar and energy storage centers in the U.S. and was included in Time magazine’s 2021 top 100 influential companies list.
Jonathan Vasdekas, project development manager for Orsted, said the sale was finalized May 25.
“Orsted plans to further advance the project and is evaluating potential construction timelines,” Vasdekas said. “Orsted will be taking over any and all permitting activities with regard to Expedition Wind.”
The county planning and zoning department has not yet issued building permits.
Expedition Wind and the city of Marion agreed months ago that the wind farm would purchase a city-owned building in Marion’s industrial park to serve as its operations headquarters. Expedition paid $16,000 — the city’s cash share of a grant to bring broadband internet to the park — so the building would get service.
The sales agreement will expire at the end of the month. With two weeks to go, it remains unknown whether the Orsted will purchase the building at 828 N. Roosevelt St.
Marion economic development director Randy Collett said Monday that he was confident the building sale would go through.
“The company who’s purchasing Expedition Wind buys all commitments and obligations,” Collett said. “I think we’re zeroing in on getting it purchased.”
Vasdekas was not so confident the company would purchase the building.
“Orsted is currently evaluating the opportunity,” he said.
Expedition already has left office space it rented in the Bowron Building at 220 E. Main St. downtown.
Expedition Wind CEO Pat Pelstring said officials from Expedition and Orsted would meet with county commissioners Monday.
Leaseholder Roger Hannaford was pleased to hear about the purchase.
“That’s how these projects work,” Hannaford said. “Expedition Wind gets things started with the permits, then Orsted is a company with the capabilities and the resources to build them, which is what they do. As a leaseholder, that’s what you want if you want it built.”