HIGHLIGHTS
The 10.5 MW Kingman wind farm and solar power project has reached mechanical completion of the five (5) 2MW Gamesa G90 wind turbines. The solar panels, inverters, and tracking system have been delivered and Western Wind expects completion of the solar portion by the end of August 31, 2011. Western Wind expects the utility provider to energize the project by August 31, 2011 and commercial operations to commence shortly thereafter.
The 120 MW Windstar wind power project has 88% of the foundations completed, 83% of the base-set towers installed, 82% of the mid-set towers installed, 32% of the top-set towers installed, and 25% of the turbines are structurally & electrically complete. To date, 85% of the G80 & G87 wind turbines have been delivered to the site. Western Wind expects the first phase (106MW) of the 120MW project to be commercially operational in the fourth quarter of 2011 and the remaining 14MW to be commercially operational in the first quarter of 2012.
Western Wind generated a loss of $1,234,965 and $1,633,063 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, compared to a loss of $648,326 and $1,685,856 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010. Basic and diluted loss per share was ($.02) and ($.03) per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, compared to a loss of ($.01) and ($.03) per share for the same period of 2010.
Energy Sales
Western Wind’s Mesa and Windridge wind farm sales totalled $1,047,212 and $1,558,562, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, compared to $936,263 and $1,427,402 for the same period of 2010. The increase in energy sales was primarily attributable to an 18% increase in energy production, partially offset by an 8% decrease in price, due to lower natural gas prices. The increase in energy production is due to a higher than normal wind year in 2011 (5.3% above the 10 year average), compared to a low wind year in 2010 (9.7% below the 10 year average).
Operating Expenses
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, Western Wind incurred continuous operating expenses totalling $2,556,583 and $4,709,747, respectively, compared to $1,657,894 and $3,333,126 for the same period of 2010. The increase in continuous operating expenses was largely attributable to an increase in genereal and administrative expense of $542,941 and $876,280, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively. Additional increases in operating expense can be attributed to increases of $131,023 and $234,087 in interest on loans payable, and increases of $162,270 and $153,047 in foreign exchange losses, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively.
Western Wind’s increase in general and adminstrative expense primarily related to an increase in stock based compensation expense, due to the issuance of 3,100,000 options to the Company’s contractors, employees and directors in December, 2010. Further increases in general and administrative expense, can be attributed to the additional salaries, professional and consulting fees required to accommodate the increased work load from the construction of our Windstar and Kingman wind farms.
The Company’s increase in interest expense is directly attributed to the corporate debt obtained in December, 2010.
Mark to Market Gain (Loss) on Canadian Dollar Warrants
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, Western Wind recorded $168,797 and $1,003,269, respectively, in mark to market gains on its Canadian dollar warrants, compared to $Nil for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010. These mark to market gains can be attributed to the appreciation of the Canadian dollar against the US dollar. The gain is reported in the statement of operations in accordance with US GAAP, which was adopted by Western Wind as of January 1, 2011.
Income Tax Recovery
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, Western Wind incurred an income tax recovery of $97,046 and $501,579, respectively, up from $72,867 and $196,582 for the same period of 2010. The increase was directly related to the recognition of taxable net operating losses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011.
Western Wind is a vertically integrated renewable energy electrical production company that currently owns over 500 wind turbines with 165 MW of rated capacity either in production or in construction in the States of California and Arizona. Western Wind further owns additional development assets for both solar and wind energy in California, Arizona, and Ontario, Canada; and in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Western Wind is in the business of owning and acquiring land sites and technology for the production of electricity from wind and solar energy. Management of Western Wind includes individuals involved in the operations and ownership of utility scale wind energy facilities in California since 1981.
