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BP Wind Energy and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power announced today that the Mehoopany Wind Farm has moved into full construction.
BP Wind Energy and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power announced today that the Mehoopany Wind Farm has moved into full construction. On completion, it will be the largest wind power project in the state of Pennsylvania and represents a combined investment of approximately $250 million.
The wind power facility, located on a 9,000-acre site some 20 miles northeast of Scranton, will have the capacity to produce 141 MW of electricity, enough to power over 40,000 homes.
To mark the launch of construction, Congressman Tom Marino was joined by state and local officials at a ceremony where they signed one of the wind turbine blades that will be installed at the facility.
“Pennsylvania has a rich abundance of natural resources and the ability to harvest wind energy is an important addition for our state. We congratulate BP and Sempra U.S. Gas and Power in moving this project into full construction.”
At peak construction, the Mehoopany wind farm will create about 250 jobs. Some 10-15 permanent jobs will be generated once the wind farm begins commercial operation, which is expected by the end of the year.
“This announcement reinforces BP’s commitment to deliver cost-competitive power to U.S. consumers by making a major investment in Pennsylvania that creates jobs, stimulates rural economic development and enhances national energy security,” said John Graham, president and CEO, BP Wind Energy.
“With world-class projects like the Mehoopany Wind Farm, Pennsylvania extends its position as a leader in the development of domestic energy and job creation,” said Jim Sahagian, vice president of renewables at Sempra U.S. Gas & Power. “We look forward to completing the project later this year, and forging a long-term partnership with the state and local community.”
Electricity produced from the Mehoopany Wind Farm has been sold under long-term power purchase agreements with Old Dominion Electric Cooperative and Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative Inc. The agreements were made possible through the efforts of the National Renewables Cooperative Organization, which enables cooperatives nationwide to pool the ownership and benefits of renewable resources.
As previously announced BP and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power are equal partners of the Mehoopany Wind Farm. BP will be the operator of the project when it becomes commercially operational.
With a growing business in wind power and advanced biofuels, BP Alternative Energy has invested around $7 billion in energy development, over $4 billion in the U.S. BP Wind Energy is a principal owner and operator of wind power facilities in the U.S. with interests in 13 wind farms. BP Wind Energy has a gross generating capacity of 1,955 MW – enough electricity to power over 586,000 average American homes.
Included in BP Wind Energy and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power’s joint venture portfolio:
The 200 MW Fowler Ridge 2 Wind Farm in Benton County, Indiana located about 90 miles northwest of Indianapolis. The wind farm utilizes 133 GE wind turbines each with a rated capacity of 1.5 MW. The wind farm became operational in December 2009. BP is operator.
The 250 MW Cedar Creek 2 Wind Farm in Weld County, Colorado located some 20 miles north of New Raymer. The wind farm utilizes 63 GE sle wind turbines, each with a rated capacity of 1.6 MW, and 60 Nordex wind turbines, each with a rated capacity of 2.5 MW. The wind farm became operational in July 2011. BP is operator.
The 470 MW Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm in Barber, Harper, Kingman and Sumner Counties, Kansas is in construction. The wind farm will utilize 294 GE wind turbines, each with a rated capacity of 1.6 MW and is expected to be in commercial operation by year-end 2012. BP will be the operator.
The 21 MW Auwahi Wind Farm on the island of Maui, Hawaii is in construction. The wind farm will utilize 8 Siemens wind turbines and is expected to be in commercial operation by year-end 2012. Sempra will be the operator.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6n9cZ1xxQw or visit www.bp.com.
