[December 30, 2014]

First Wind Continues Partnership with DonorsChoose.org to Provide Assistance to Classroom Teachers

First Wind, a leading U.S.-based renewable energy company, for the third straight year has partnered with teachers in local classrooms in communities that host First Wind projects to make contributions toward local education projects. Through the DonorsChoose program, First Wind supports teachers and their innovative classroom projects around the country.

In May of 2012, First Wind began a strategic partnership with DonorsChoose.org in order to enhance the company's community giving in locations where First Wind develops and operates renewable energy facilities. For the past three years, the program has benefitted many local classrooms and students.

In its third full year, First Wind contributed $15,000 to fund 52 projects at 36 schools, which reached and positively impacted nearly 4,400 students. For example, First Wind donated funds to multiple projects to supply basic common core learning materials and hands-on learning kits. First Wind also donated funds to help classrooms purchase books to implement STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs. These supplies will be used for years to come, and will support future classrooms and students as well.

"First Wind is committed to being an active community member and we are glad to again help support innovative and engaging educational projects in our host communities," said Carol Grant, senior vice president of External Affairs. "This program starts with the good idea of a teacher in one of our communities. Our contribution is to support that idea and help bring it to life. We're glad to have a small part in helping these teachers and their students."

First Wind has donated to classrooms in or near the communities where it has projects, including Mars Hill, Maine; Rosalia, Washington; Lyndonville, Vermont; Milford, Utah; Kahuku, Hawaii and many other locations.

Some examples of supported projets include:

• A donation to be used to purchase hands-on activities for STEM learning at Kihei Public Charter K-12 School in Hawaii.
• A donation to Fort Street Elementary School in Mars Hill, Maine to help purchase books to improve reading skills.
• At Lyndon Town Elementary School in Vermont, First Wind funded a project request to provide materials for engineering projects in science class.
• At Jefferson Elementary School in Pullman, Washington, First Wind supported a teacher who requested headphones so students could listen and read along to stories.
• At Milford High School in Utah, a teacher requested funding to build a classroom library to enhance reading skills. First Wind's contribution helped purchase 45 books of varying reading levels.

First Wind is especially proud to support school projects that involve renewable energy education. One project request at Ella Burr Elementary School in Lincoln, Maine came from Mrs. Josephine Gray who was hoping to purchase alternative energy science kits to better help her fourth graders learn through hands-on experiments. The project was fully funded and the students cannot wait to receive the materials.

"Dear First Wind, we can't possibly thank you enough for funding our project! How I wish you could be there when the kids get to see all of the awesome, hands-on materials they will now have access to thanks to your generosity! These resources will allow my students to build their own knowledge, and experiment with concepts they have learned about. This will be so much more meaningful than simply watching videos of others performing experiments. Three cheers for you, for them, and for our future!" wrote Mrs. Gray.

Visit First Wind's DonorsChoose.org page: http://www.donorschoose.org/Firstwind2014

About First Wind

First Wind, which recently entered into an agreement to be acquired by SunEdison (News - Alert) and TerraForm Power, is a leading renewable energy company exclusively focused on the development, financing, construction, ownership and operation of utility-scale renewable energy projects in the United States. Based in Boston, First Wind is operating or building renewable energy projects across the country, with combined capacity of nearly 1,300 megawatts (MW) - enough to power more than 375,000 homes each year. For more information on First Wind, please visit www.firstwind.com or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @FirstWind.

About DonorsChoose.org

Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. Public school teachers from every corner of America post requests, and individuals can give directly to the ones that inspire them. To date, 218,000 public and charter school teachers have used DonorsChoose.org to secure $298 million in books, art supplies, technology, and other resources that their students need to learn. Visit www.donorschoose.org/intro to hear Oprah Winfrey and Stephen Colbert tell the DonorsChoose.org story.

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