Westford Energy, ("Westford") was formed to develop, finance and operate cogeneration and alternate energy power production facilities. Westford's founder and sole manager, Arch Ford, developed energy power production projects utilizing innovative technologies ranging from hydroelectric to thermal power since 1981. The thermal power projects utilized municipal solid waste, scrap tires, rice husks and natural gas. He was co-founder and Senior Vice President of the former Oxford Energy Company, ("Oxford"), which was one of the first non-regulated private power companies to become publicly traded in 1986.
The following is a partial list of power production facilities in which Arch held sole project development responsibility through Westford, its wholly owned affiliates, or as Senior Vice President of Oxford.
HYDROELECTRIC PROJECTS
Fords Creek Project: The Fords Creek Project is an operating 1.5 megawatt high head hydroelectric facility located near Weippe, Idaho. Placed into commercial operation in 1988, The Project currently generates approximately 5 million kilowatt hours of electricity which is sold to Avista Utilities.
Nooksack Falls Project: The Nooksack Project is an operating hydroelectric facility producing 3.4 megawatts located near Bellingham, Washington. Initially placed into commercial operation in 1906, it operated until 1997 when it ceased operation due to a generator electrical fire. Following acquisition of the facility in January 2003 and refurbishment of the powerhouse, it resumed operation in May, 2003. The Facility currently generates approximately 25 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually which is sold to Puget Sound Energy.
Youngs Creek Project: The Youngs Creek Project was a partially constructed 8.3 megawatt licensed facility located near Sultan, WA in which construction commenced in 1994 with completion of penstock alignment, access roads and concrete access bridge. The Project then lay dormant until acquired by Westford in 2007. In breathing new life into the Project which included re-activating certain regulatory permits, and extending the FERC license thereby allowing resumption of Project construction. Westford also commenced negotiations for the sale of Project power with Snohomish Public Utility District (“District”) subsequently resulting in the sale of the Project, underlying real estate and related assets to the District in 2008.
Calligan Lake and Hancock Lake Projects: The Calligan Lake and Hancock Lake Projects were both unconstructed 6 megawatt high head hydroelectric facilities located near North Bend, WA. They previously held FERC licenses which expired under their own terms. Westford acquired certain project rights and applied for new FERC permits. After perfecting fee title interest in the Projects underlying real estate and obtaining new FERC permits, both Projects and their underlying real estate, associated engineering drawings and regulatory permits were sold to Snohomish Public Utility District in November 2010.
THERMAL PROJECTS
Mulberry Power Project: The Mulberry Project is a nominal 120 megawatt, $130 million natural gas fired Cogeneration Project located in Polk County, Florida. The Project was placed in service in March, 1994. The electrical output of the facility is sold to Florida Power Corporation and Tampa Electric Company. The thermal host is a 6 million gallon per year demineralized water plant.
Modesto Tire Incineration Project: The Modesto Tire Project is a nominal 14.4 megawatt, $42 million facility. Located near Modesto, California this plant utilized 5 million scrap tires annually as its primary fuel. Placed into commercial operation in 1987, the electrical output of the facility was sold to Pacific Gas & Electric Company pursuant to a 20 year power sales agreement
Stanislaus Waste to Energy Project: The Stanislaus Project is an operating 1000 ton per day, 22 megawatt, $128 million municipal solid waste incineration project in located in Stanislaus County, California. The project commenced commercial operation in 1988.
Williams Power Project: The Williams Project is a 30 megawatt, $56 million rice husk incineration facility located near Williams, California. The Williams Project generated approximately 220 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually. The project commenced commercial operation in 1989 and is the largest rice hull incineration project in the world.
Arch's incredible talent and drive made these projects realizable and operational. In many cases, a David and Goliath event.