EDP Renewables North America stated that the wind farm will be located about 32km south of the Town of Seibert and is within both Kit Carson and Cheyenne Counties and is expected to be operational next year.
When operational, the wind farm could generate enough electricity to power more than 47,000 rural Colorado homes annually and will also offer economic benefits such as jobs, landowner and tax payments, among others.
For Tri-State, a wholesale cooperative power supplier owned by 43 member electric cooperatives and public power districts, the agreement marks the fifth investment in a utility-scale wind energy project. This is the second PPA the utility has signed, following the issuance of its request for proposals for renewable energy supply last June.
Tri-State CEO Mike McInnes said: “Tri-State continues to responsibly add emission-free renewable energy resources that are beneficial to our members. We are pleased to work with EDP Renewables to bring this investment to Colorado and the service territory of our member, K.C. Electric Association.”
The wind farm will also expand EDP Renewables’ presence into fifteen states in the US. With this wind farm, EDPR will now have 1.2GW of clean energy portfolio, supported by long-term agreements, which will be installed in this year and the next.
EDPR is already present in the states such as California, South Carolina, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, New York, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.
EDP Renewables North America CEO Miguel Prado said: “EDP Renewables and Tri-State’s partnership represents our commitment to continuing to increase the clean energy landscape in the United States. EDPR is pleased to enter in to the state of Colorado and provide cost-effective, emissions-free energy through its Crossing Trails Wind Farm.”
Last December, the company closed the agreement with Axium Infrastructure to sell 80% stake in its portfolio of fully-owned wind onshore assets in the US and Canada. The wind farms include the 200MW Meadow Lake VI, the 199MW Prairie Queen and the 100MW Nation Rise wind farms.
