SHEFFIELD — Vermont’s newest commercial wind power project is starting to pay dividends to the town where it’s located.

Earlier this month the town of Sheffield received a payment of $117,000 for hosting the First Wind project on Sheffield Heights. The project is obligated to pay $520,000 a year for the life of the project, which began producing power in October.

Operations Manager Andy Doak says the project has generated enough energy since October to power the equivalent of 16,500 homes daily.

On Town Meeting Day in March, Sheffield voters will be asked about how they would like to begin spending the town’s income from the project.