Energy, Utilities & Water  March 22, 2017

Rush Creek wind farm in Colorado part of Xcel’s 11-farm, 7-state plan

 

Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy Inc. on Tuesday said it is proposing to construct 11 wind farms in seven states, including one in Colorado, adding 3,380 megawatts of wind generation to Xcel’s system.

Denmark-based Vestas Wind Systems A/S, will provide wind turbines for the wind farm at Rush Creek in Colorado, and some of the turbines at the 10 other sites, said Xcel spokesman Randy Fordice. Vestas manufactures wind turbines and other components for wind systems and has two facilities in Brighton and one each in Windsor and Pueblo. It’s unclear how many other wind farms Vestas will supply turbines or other components to Xcel’s overall project.

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“Because some of the projects and still pending regulatory approval, some contracts have yet to be finalized,” Fordice explained.

Construction is set to begin this spring at Rush Creek, a 600-megawatt wind farm in Cheyenne, Elbert, Kit Carson and Lincoln counties, developed by Chicago-based  Invenergy LLC, which has an office in Littleton. The Colorado project was announced last year.

The  11 wind farms would increase the amount of wind energy in the company’s energy mix by 2021, with wind fueling nearly 35 percent of its energy production.

“We’re investing big in wind because of the tremendous economic value it brings to our customers,” Ben Fowke, chairman, president and CEO of Xcel Energy, said in a prepared statement. “With wind energy at historic low prices, we can secure savings that will benefit customers now and for decades to come. Our plan delivers on both economic and environmental fronts, as we provide customers the cleaner, renewable resources they want, while continuing to deliver the reliable and low-cost energy they need.”

Xcel Energy is using federal production-tax credits to secure low wind energy prices.

Xcel Energy said it expects to see at least a 45 percent reduction companywide in carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2021, if it is able to fully implement approved and proposed renewable-energy plans.

The 10 other projects are:

Sagamore Wind, a 522 megawatt self-build project located in Roosevelt County, N.M., developed by Invenergy.

Hale Wind, a 478 megawatt self-build project located in Hale County, Texas, developed by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources.

Bonita, a 230 megawatt power purchase agreement project in Cochran and Crosby counties, Texas, developed by NextEra Energy Resources.

Freeborn Wind Energy, a 200 megawatt self-build project located in Freeborn County, Minn., and Worth and Mitchell counties, Iowa, developed by Invenergy.

Foxtail Wind, a 150 megawatt self-build project in Dickey County, N.D., developed by NextEra Energy Resources.

Blazing Star 1, a 200 megawatt self-build project in Lincoln County, Minn., developed by Geronimo Energy.

Blazing Star 2, a 200 megawatt self-build project in Lincoln County, Minn., developed by Geronimo Energy.

Crowned Ridge Wind Project, a 300 megawatt build-own-transfer project and a 300 megawatt power purchase agreement. The project will be in Codington, Deuel and Grant counties, S.D., developed by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources.

Lake Benton Wind Project, a 100 megawatt build-own-transfer project in Pipestone County, Minn., developed by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources.

Clean Energy 1, a 100 megawatt power purchase agreement project in Morton and Mercer counties, N.D., developed by ALLETE Clean Energy.

 

 

Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy Inc. on Tuesday said it is proposing to construct 11 wind farms in seven states, including one in Colorado, adding 3,380 megawatts of wind generation to Xcel’s system.

Denmark-based Vestas Wind Systems A/S, will provide wind turbines for the wind farm at Rush Creek in Colorado, and some of the turbines at the 10 other sites, said Xcel spokesman Randy Fordice. Vestas manufactures wind turbines and other components for wind systems and has two facilities in Brighton and one each in Windsor and Pueblo. It’s unclear how many other wind farms Vestas will supply turbines…

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