Duke Energy , the largest U.S. utility owner by market value, will build and operate a 110-megawatt wind farm in southern Texas.
The Los Vientos V project will use 55 2-megawatt Vestas Wind Systems A/S wind turbines and be completed late next year, Charlotte, North Carolina-based Duke Energy Renewables said today in a statement.
Duke Energy Renewables, a commercial business unit of Duke Energy, today announced it will build, own and operate a 110-megawatt (MW) wind power project, Los Vientos V, in Starr County, Texas.
Garland Power & Light, Greenville Electric Utility System and Bryan Texas Utilities (BTU) have signed 25-year agreements to purchase the power produced by the project.
“We’re proud to be partnering with these progressive utilities to make renewable energy more widely available to their customers,” said Duke Energy Renewables President Greg Wolf. “One of the key advantages of our Los Vientos projects is they generate the majority of their power during the day, when customer demand is greatest.”
“We are pleased to have contracted with Duke Energy Renewables for additional wind power for our customers,” said Jeff Janke, senior managing director of Garland Power & Light. “This coastal wind will help diversify our power supply portfolio.”
With an expected completion date in late 2015, Los Vientos V will produce enough emissions-free electricity to power about 33,000 homes.
"During our assessment of long-term generation resource needs, we have found a good fit with Duke’s Los Vientos V wind project”, said BTU Board of Directors Chairman Carl Benner. “It will be an important component of our energy portfolio and provide BTU customers with affordable, predictable pricing for the next quarter century."
“We couldn’t have done it without the foresight of the leaders, landowners and people of Starr County,” said Milton Howard, Duke Energy Renewables executive, renewables development. “Thanks to them, we will be bringing significant construction jobs to the area, boosting economic development and supporting the local school district through dependable tax revenue for years to come.”
Vestas will supply 55 2-MW turbines for the project.
Once completed, Los Vientos III and IV -- announced last year -- and Los Vientos V will bring Duke Energy’s total wind-generated capacity to more than 2,100 MW, which firmly establishes Duke Energy Renewables in the top 10 for wind production in the country.
Duke Energy’s renewable power projects in Texas:
- Sweetwater Windpower Project, Nolan County, 283 MW (of 585 MW total)
- Ocotillo Windpower Project, Howard County, 59 MW
- Notrees Windpower Project, Ector & Winkler Counties, 153 MW
- Blue Wing Solar Power Project, San Antonio,14 MW
- Notrees Battery Storage Project, Winkler County, 36 MW
- Los Vientos I Windpower Project, Willacy County, 200 MW
- Los Vientos II Windpower Project, Willacy County, 202 MW
- Los Vientos III Windpower Project, Starr County, 200 MW under construction
- Los Vientos IV Windpower Project, Starr County, 200 MW under construction
- Los Vientos V Windpower Project, Starr County, 110 MW under construction