Pattern Energy Group LP has announced that its Ocotillo Wind project, located in Southern California, has reached commercial operation and is transmitting energy to the Sunrise Powerlink, a newly constructed, 117-mile, 500 kV transmission line linking San Diego and the Imperial Valley.
The 265 MW wind project consists of 112 Siemens 2.37 MW turbines, which feature wind towers, blades and nacelles made in the U.S. The towers were manufactured in California by Ameron International, the blades were produced in Iowa and the nacelles were made in Kansas.
Ninety-four of the turbines are erected and operational, and the remaining 18 turbines will be installed this spring.
San Diego Gas & Electric has a 20-year power purchase agreement with Pattern Energy to purchase the output of the project, which will be connected to the Sunrise Powerlink transmission line. Completed in June 2012, the transmission line connects San Diego with the Imperial Valley – one of the most renewable-energy-rich regions in California – and will eventually carry 1 GW of additional power into San Diego.
