PHILADELPHIA - The University of Pennsylvania has announced it will make the largest U.S. retail purchase of wind energy through an agreement with Community Energy Inc.

The announcement was made at the dedication of Pennsylvania newest wind farms, the Exelon-Community Energy Wind Farms at Somerset and Mill Run. The event is being held at the Somerset Wind Farm and coincides with Gov. Mark Schweiker proclamation of "Wind Energy Week" for the week of Oct. 22.

The University of Pennsylvania, together with Penn State University, Philadelphia Suburban Water, Carnegie Mellon University and Giant Eagle Inc. have signed on to purchase 75 percent of what the combined 24-megawatt wind farms will produce annually. Penn alone will purchase the output of five of the 215-foot-tall, 1.5-megawatt wind turbines, equivalent to more than 30 percent of the total energy generated from the two new wind farms. This purchase represents the largest retail wind energy purchase in the nation to date and will satisfy 5 percent of the University annual energy needs.

Barry Hilts, Penn associate vice president of facilities; Mike Coleman, director of facility services; and students from the Penn Environmental Group are representing Penn at the ceremonies.

"Wee very excited to be part of a clean energy future for Pennsylvania and the nation," Hilts said.

"Penn is leading the way to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future," said Brent Alderfer, CEI president. "Penn students, faculty staff, and alumni can take pride knowing five large wind turbines are producing new clean home-grown energy on their behalf."