BP Alternative Energy has begun full construction on Phase-I of the Sherbino wind farm located approximately 30 miles east of Fort Stockton in the Pecos County, west Texas.
The first phase of the project will have a capacity of 150MW and is being built through an equal-stake joint venture agreement with Padoma Wind Power, a wholly owned subsidiary of NRG Energy. The first phase of the project is expected to come on line in the second half of 2008.
Sherbino-I will utilize 50 Vestas V-90 wind turbine generators, each with a rated capacity of 3MW. Initial construction on the 10,000 acre site began in 2007.
The overall project has a potential capacity of 750MW, which is expected to generate enough carbon-free electricity to power approximately 225,000 average US homes.
Bob Malone, chairman and president of BP America, said: BP is growing its wind power portfolio in the US and the Sherbino wind farm in Texas is the latest example of that growth. Wind power is one of America’s most abundant natural resources and we believe that turning wind into electricity should be a major part of the nation’s drive to increase the use of alternative energy and reduce carbon emissions.