Southern Power has acquired its tenth wind project, the 100MW Wildhorse Mountain wind farm Pushmataha County, Oklahoma.
Image: Electricity from the wind farm will be sold to AECC under 20 year long term PPA. Photo: Courtesy of Southern Company.
The wind farm is developed by Roaring Fork Wind, a co-development partnership between Renewable Energy Systems Americas (RES) and Vestas.
Once operational, electricity from the wind farm will be bought by Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) under a 20 year power purchase agreement (PPA).
The wind farm is expected to include 29 of Vestas wind turbines. RES will conclude balance of plant construction of the facility and Vestas will provide long-term maintenance for the turbines under a 20-year service agreement.
Southern Power president and CEO Mark Lantrip said: “We are proud to announce our tenth wind project as we continue to build the future of energy. Wildhorse Mountain is a great project for Southern Power’s growing footprint and a shining example of our collaborative partnership with RES.
“Our long-time partner Vestas was also a key player in delivering on this project. We look forward to its completion and operation.”
The wind farm is expected to start commercial operations in the fourth quarter of next year. AECC intends to sell the renewable energy credits associated with the electricity produced by Wildhorse Mountain.
AECC president and CEO Duane Highley said: “AECC works on behalf of more than 500,000 electric cooperative members to add resources, like the 100MW of capacity from Wildhorse Mountain Wind Facility, to its generation portfolio.
“This wind facility along with AECC’s diverse, reliable generation portfolio provides energy at the lowest possible cost to our members.”
This is Southern Power’s fourth wind farm within the state of Oklahoma. By acquiring this wind farm, the company taken its wind portfolio to more than 1.6GW.
The wind generation is part of the company’s 3GW of renewable fleet which includes 39 solar, wind and biomass facilities operating or under construction.