Invenergyhasflippedtheswitchonits32.5MWSpringCanyonIIEnergyCenter. LocatedneartheTownofPeetz, Colo., approximately130milesnortheastofFortCollins, SpringCanyonIIutilizes19GE1.7-100windturbines.
OutputfromSpringCanyonIIissoldtoPlatteRiverPowerAuthorityunderalong-termagreement. Inaddition, PlatteRiverwillpurchase27.5MWofwindpowertobegeneratedattheSpringCanyonIIIEnergyCenter, whichcurrentlyisunderconstruction. SpringCanyonIIIwillutilize16GEwindturbinesandisscheduledtobegincommercialoperationsbytheendofthisyear.
“ThepurchaseofadditionalwindenergyfromSpringCanyonIIandIIIsupportsPlatteRiver’sstrategicinitiativetofurtherdiversifyourgenerationportfolio,” statesJackieSargent, PlatteRiver’sgeneralmanagerandCEO.
"Together, thetwoprojectswillincreaseourwindenergysupplytoabout11percentofthepowerconsumedannuallyinourfourownermunicipalities,” addsSargent. “Includinghydropower, thetotalportionofenergysuppliedtothemunicipalitiesfromnon-fossilresourceswillbeapproximately30percent.”
Together, theSpringCanyonIIandIIIprojectswillcomprisetheSpringCanyonExpansionWindEnergyCenter, whichissitednearInvenergy’soriginalSpringCanyonEnergyfacility, a60MWwindfarminoperationsince2006.
“InvenergyispleasedtocontinuetoinvestinColoradowithournewestpowergenerationprojectinthestate,” saysJimShield, Invenergy’schiefdevelopmentofficer. “We’redelightedtoworkwithPlatteRivertocreateanewsourceofclean, homegrownenergythatalsogeneratesjobsandtaxrevenueinthelocalareaandgreatlyappreciatethebroadsupportfortheprojectinourhostcommunity.”
ConstructiononSpringCanyonIIbeganlatelastyear. WanzekConstructionservedasthegeneralcontractor, andECIperformedengineeringservices.