First Wind files for $450M IPO

It’s been a busy time for cleantech IPOs. Several companies, including GT Solar, Noble Environmental Power and Real Goods Solar, have thrown their hats in the ring in recent weeks — though often with little success. The latest is First Wind, a Newton, Mass.-based wind power developer, which has just filed for a $450 million IPO.

Its co-lead underwriters are Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan; it will trade on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “WINDY”. It said it will sell Class A shares though it hasn’t disclosed the exact number or share price. The proceeds will be used to repay debt and to fund part of its 2008-9 capital expenditures.

Founded in 1995, First Wind develops, manages and owns 3 wind farms, located in the Northeast, West and Hawaii, that produce 92 megawatts. It has a further 182 megawatts of capacity under construction and a pipeline of 5,564 megawatts.

The company hopes to have around 1,100 megawatts of operating capacity by the end of 2010 and 2,300 megawatts by the end of 2013. It reported $12.3 million in revenue for 2007, including a net loss of $68 million; it currently employs 130 people.

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About the Author, Jeremy Jacquot

Jeremy Jacquot is a doctoral student at the University of Southern California who is studying watershed management and global biogeochemical cycling. He previously studied marine biology at UCLA where he earned his B.S. in 2005; he is the Los Angeles correspondent for TreeHugger, where he focuses on science/technology and business news.