BP Wind Energy and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power have announced that the Flat Ridge 2 wind farm has moved into full construction. Upon completion, it will be the largest wind project in the state of Kansas, according to the companies.
The facility, located on a 66,000-acre site about 40 miles southwest of Wichita, represents a combined investment of more than $800 million and will have a capacity of 419 MW.
At the peak of construction, the Flat Ridge 2 project will create approximately 500 jobs, and roughly 30 permanent jobs will be created once the wind farm begins commercial operation, which is expected by the end of the year.
The companies also announced that the power from a 51 MW expansion project, which will also be completed this year, has been sold under a separate long-term agreement with Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC), a Little Rock-based generation and transmission cooperative.
The electricity produced at Flat Ridge 2 has been sold under long-term power purchase agreements with Associated Electric Cooperative and Southwestern Electric Power Co., a unit of American Electric Power.
BP and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power are equal partners for 419 MW of the wind farm, and the companies are finalizing joint-venture agreements for the additional capacity.
BP will be the operator of the Flat Ridge 2 project and expansion project when they become commercially operational.
