BOSTON — First Wind, an independent wind power company, announced that it has begun construction of the 25.5 MW expansion of its Stetson Wind project in Danforth, Maine. The Stetson Wind project began operating in January 2009 and First Wind received approval to build the 25.5 MW expansion in March 2009.

According to the CEO, Paul Gaynor First Wind spent about $50 million with Maine-based businesses and created hundreds of development and construction jobs during the first phase of the project. The expansion will consist of the construction and operation of 17 additional state-of-the-art GE 1.5 MW wind turbines, bringing the total to 55, with a capacity to generate 82.5 MW.