Dominion and BP have said that the wind facilities represent the first projects announced since they had entered into an agreement to jointly own, operate and develop wind energy projects in Virginia. Both projects would be subject to all applicable local, state and federal permits and approvals.
The wind farms in Tazewell and Wise counties would be developed by Dominion’s Virginia electric utility subsidiary and BP Wind Energy North America. Earlier in January 2009, Dominion’s Virginia electric utility subsidiary and BP Wind Energy purchased about 2,560 acres of land in Tazewell County.
In addition to the joint venture in Virginia, Dominion and BP are partners in 650MW of the 750MW Fowler Ridge wind farm in Benton County, Indiana.
David Stoner, senior vice president of BP Wind Energy, said: “Several areas in the state of Virginia have reasonable wind resources and wind power is a key component of delivering adequate energy supply for future generations of Americans. If wind power is developed in the right way, in the right places, it offers attractive option as part of the energy mix.”
Dominion is a producer and transporter of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 27,000 megawatts of generation, 1.1 trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas and oil reserves, 14,000 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline and 6,000 miles of electric transmission lines, claims the company.
