Acciona has inaugurated its eighth U.S. wind project, the 93 MW San Roman Wind Farm, located near Brownsville, Texas.
Rolando Pablos, Texas’ secretary of state, joined Acciona and its chairman, Jose Manuel Entrecanales, to inaugurate the wind farm, which will produce enough energy to power more than 30,000 homes in southeast Texas. The wind farm, comprising 31 AW125/3000 turbines, brings Acciona’s total U.S. wind capacity to 721 MW.
In addition, Acciona expects the project to generate $30 million in tax revenue for local school districts and other public services and approximately $25 million in lease payments to local landowners over its operating life. Construction of the San Roman wind farm was completed in 11 months and generated more than 100,000 hours of work for local contractors, Acciona says.
“We are proud to welcome Acciona and the San Roman Wind Farm to Cameron County,” said Pablos. “As one of Texas’ top foreign direct investors, Spain is a close friend, ally and trade partner, and we are honored to join them in celebrating the inauguration of this important renewable energy project, which will help power economic development in the border region and beyond. The success of the Rio Grande Valley is crucial to the success of the Texas economy, and I am confident that Acciona’s commitment to the local community will further strengthen the infrastructure of the region to support even more investment and job growth.”
Entrecanales added, “Texas is one of the most attractive investment destinations in the world, and we are particularly proud to be a part of this wind energy success story.”
The company also established a program with local school districts to provide merit-based scholarships to two students each year for the full life of the project. Entrecanales and Pablos awarded the first of those scholarships to Maria Garcia and Hannah Pinkerton, graduating seniors from the Los Fresnos and Port Isabel school districts, respectively. ACCIONA provides similar scholarship programs at all of its U.S. wind farms.
Along with the San Roman Wind Farm, Acciona’s U.S.-based portfolio includes three wind farms in Oklahoma (329 MW), one in North and South Dakota (180 MW), one in Illinois (100.5 MW), and two in North Dakota (12 MW) and Iowa (6 MW). The company also operates a 64 MW concentrating solar power plant in Nevada.
Acciona has also started construction on a new 168 MW wind farm and will install a 339 MW solar plant in Mexico. Both are expected to be completed by the end of 2018.
