BP Wind Energy has entered into a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo), an Xcel Energy company. PSCO's agreement to purchase 250 MW of electricity from Cedar Creek II LLC is part of the 2009 All Source Solicitation for energy generators.
The Cedar Creek II wind farm will be located about 20 miles north of New Raymer, in Weld County, Colo., and east of the existing 300.5 MW Cedar Creek I wind farm.
It is anticipated that about 250 workers will be employed during construction of the wind farm and an estimated 12 to 14 jobs will be created to monitor and maintain the facility once it is in full commercial operation, according to BP Wind Energy.
The Cedar Creek II Wind PPA is the second to be completed from Xcel Energy's 2007 Colorado Resource Plan.
‘The project will be one of the largest in Colorado and increases the utilization of a highly desirable wind power resource,’ says Tom Imbler, Xcel Energy vice president for commercial operations. ‘In addition, the location of this new project will allow us to take advantage of existing transmission lines to deliver clean wind energy to our customers, reducing overall costs.’
Subject to receiving all the necessary permits to proceed, it is anticipated that the Cedar Creek II wind farm will begin construction this summer. The project will utilize a combination of GE and Nordex wind turbines. The electrical output generated from the wind facility will reach the grid through approximately 20 miles of new overhead transmission lines that will tie into the existing Cedar Creek I wind farm's interconnection with PSCo.
SOURCE: BP Wind Energy
