Duke Energy Renewables has acquired a 50% stake in Mesquite Creek Wind, a 211 MW wind power project near Lamesa, Texas, through its joint venture partnership with Sumitomo Corp. of Americas.
The acquisition increases Duke Energy Renewables' Texas wind capacity to more than 1,200 GW.
Duke Energy says that Mars Inc., the maker of Snickers and Orbit gum, is purchasing the power and associated renewable energy credits from the wind farm for 20 years. The facility began operations in April of this year.
Mesquite Creek Wind consists of 118 1.7 MW GE wind turbines, enough to provide electricity for Mars' entire U.S. operations comprising 70 sites, including 37 factories. The energy produced is enough to make 13 billion Snickers bars – or 188 billion sticks of Orbit gum.
‘Mesquite Creek Wind has been a landmark project for our company as the sixth renewable energy investment in the U.S.,’ says Teruyuki Miyazaki, Sumitomo's senior vice president and general manger of its environment and infrastructure group. ‘Having been involved in the financing and management of this project through its development, build-out and completion, we are very pleased to have Duke Energy Renewables share in ownership of the project and look forward to strengthening our partnership.’
Duke Energy Renewables' projects under operation in Texas are as follows:
- Sweetwater Windpower Project, Nolan County, 283 MW (of 585 MW total);
- Ocotillo Windpower Project, Howard County, 59 MW;
- Notrees Windpower Project, Ector and Winkler counties, 153 MW;
- Blue Wing Solar Power Project, San Antonio, 14 MW;
- Notrees Battery Storage Project, Winkler County, 36 MW;
- Los Vientos I Windpower Project, Willacy County, 200 MW;
- Los Vientos II Windpower Project, Willacy County, 202 MW;
- Los Vientos III Windpower Project, Starr County, 200 MW; and
- Mesquite Creek Wind Project, Borden and Dawson counties, 106 MW (of 211 MW total).
Duke Energy and Sumitomo share ownership of the 131 MW Cimarron II and 168 MW Ironwood wind power projects, both of which began operating in Kansas in 2012.
