EDF Renewable Energy has entered into an agreement with Otter Tail Power to construct a 150MW Merricourt Wind Project to be located in North Dakota.

After the construction is complete, the wind project will be handed over to Otter Tail Power Company. Closing of the transaction is subject to certain precedent conditions.

Merricourt wind project will be constructed on 13,700 acres south of Edgeley, North Dakota, McIntosh and Dickey counties. Turbines for the wind farm will be supplied from Vestas. 75 of V110-2.0MW turbines will be used for the project.

These turbines are expected to be manufactured at Vestas’ facilities in Colorado. The project is expected to create more than 150 construction jobs and at least 10 permanent jobs. Apart from this, the project can inject millions of dollars in economic benefits in the local region.

The commercial operation of the project is expected to start in 2019 and about 65,000 households can receive power from this wind farm.

EDF Renewable Energy executive vice president Ryan Pfaff said: “We are excited to be partnering with Otter Tail Power Company to deliver competitively-priced, clean energy to OTPC’s customers through the Merricourt Wind Project.

“The Project will also provide an economic boost to the North Dakota economy, through new construction and operations jobs, expanded tax base, and recurring, long-term income for participating landowners.”

Currently, Otter Tail Power has a power portfolio which includes 19% of wind power. The new wind project can increase that proportion to about 28%.

Otter Tail Power Company president Tim Rogelstad said: “Our North Dakota service area has some of the best wind resources in the country to produce low-cost energy.

“And, because of advances in technology, this wind farm will have a high energy output—even by North Dakota standards.”