Wind Energy

Cedar Creek II (250 MW, Colorado) wind farm gets commissioner approval

No construction start on Cedar Creek II has been set however, as BP Wind Energy still has to work out some details with the Weld County Department of Public Works and Planning Department. The company, however, hopes to get started on construction this summer.

Cedar Creek I began full commercial operation in January 2008 and generates about 300 megawatts of wind power, enough to provide electricity for 90,000 homes. It is about eight miles east of Grover.

The second phase, according to David Gonzalez, director of business development-wind power for BP Wind Energy of Houston, will be about 17 miles east of Grover and 17 miles north of New Raymer. The project represents a $300 million investment, Gonzalez said.

Just prior to Wednesday’s meeting, BP announced that it had signed a long-term agreement with Public Service Co. of Colorado, which is part of Xcel Energy, to sell 250 megawatts of electricity which will come from Cedar Creek II.

Tom Imbler, vice president for commercial operations with Xcel, said the purchase agreement is the second to be completed from Xcel’s 2007 Colorado Resources Plan.

"The wind turbines project will be one of the largest in Colorado and increases the utilization of a highly desirable wind power resource," Imbler said in a press release.

At Wednesday’s hearing, there were several residents from northeast Weld who expressed the support for the wind farm project.

Kevin and Marlene Oakes of La Salle, who own property in the area, said there was some problem over ownership of that land and where the transmission line would cross. Commissioners said that was an issue they could not address, as it dealt with the county assessor’s office.

www.xcelenergy.com

By Bill Jackson, www.greeleytribune.com