ENEL GREEN POWER STARTS CONSTRUCTION OF A 150 MW WIND FARM

Октября 13, 2011

The Rocky Ridge wind farm is expected to supply enough power to meet the energy needs of approximately 55,000 US households, therefore avoiding the emission of over 470,000 tons of CO2 per year. Project investment to total approximately 250 million US dollars.

Enel Green Power North America Inc. (EGP NA) and its development partner TradeWind Energy started construction activities of the Rocky Ridge wind project, 51% owned by EGP NA, located in Kiowa County and Washita County, Oklahoma.
The new wind farm’s installed capacity will total approximately 150 MW and consist of 93 wind turbines of 1.6 MW each. Once fully operational, the plant will generate approximately 630 million kWh annually, supplying power to approximately 55,000 US households and avoiding the annual emission of over 470,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.
The wind farm has a power purchase agreement with the Western Farmers Electric Cooperative.
The overall investment in this project amounts to, approximately, 250 million US dollars. This amount, which is fully financed by Enel Green Power, is part of the 2011-2015 investment program already disclosed to the market back in March this year. The plant is expected to become operational in the summer of 2012.
The Rocky Ridge project spreads across 18,000 acres of land, leased from 75 landowners. The wind farm will generate approximately 150 jobs during construction as well as approximately 10 operation, maintenance and administration jobs once the plant will be up and running.
“We are thrilled to witness the start of construction of Enel Green Power’s first project in Oklahoma. Over time, our cooperation with TradeWind Energy proved to be an opportunity to develop renewable energy as well as creating value among local communities through job and income generation.” commented Francesco Starace, Chief Executive Officer of Enel Green Power.
Rocky Ridge is the fourth wind project that EGP NA and TradeWind Energy have worked on together through the partnership launched by the two companies back in 2006. Following the entry in operation of the Caney River and Rocky Ridge projects, the partnership will have commissioned 600 MW in new wind power projects - the already operational Smoky Hills 1 and 2 (totaling around 250 MW), the Caney River wind farm, currently under construction (200 MW) and the Rocky Ridge wind farm (150 MW) presently beginning construction.