Xcel Energy Inc. (Xcel) has selected NextEra Energy Resources (NextEra), formerly FPL Energy, LLC, from a list of 16 bidders to build a new wind farm and provide wind energy through a purchased power agreement. The wind farm will be located in Northern Colorado at Peetz Table. The wind farm will provide around 152 megawatts (MW) of power when generating at full capacity, if the Colorado Public Utilities Commission approves the contract.
The location has existing access to transmission lines and already is home to two wind farms totaling 400 MW.
The original request for proposal has been issued in February of 2008 and resulted in bids that totaled more than 2,400 MW worth of wind power. NextEra is expected to build the wind farm called the Northern Colorado wind facility and will be online by the end of 2009.
The Northern Colorado wind facility will help Xcel move closer toward meeting Colorado Governor Ritter’s 20% carbon reduction plan by 2020.
“We continue to grow our wind energy production in Colorado,” said Karen Hyde, vice president of resource acquisition for Xcel. “We are already the number one wind provider in the nation. This farm, combined with our plans to add up to another 700 MW of wind power to our system in coming years will greatly enhance our position as the national wind energy leader.”