Invenergy’s Santa Rita East Wind Farm has officially begun commercial operations in Texas.
The 302.4 MW project, located approximately 70 miles west of San Angelo, was developed and constructed by Invenergy. It is expected to generate enough electricity to power 120,000 homes.
In 2018, Invenergy announced three separate virtual power purchase agreements for Santa Rita East, totaling 260 MW, with corporations Grupo Bimbo (100 MW), Merck (60 MW) and Novartis (100 MW).
Upon project completion, Invenergy closed a purchase and sale agreement with AEP Renewables for a 75% interest in the project. Invenergy, retaining a 25% stake, will provide operations, asset management and energy management services under a 20-year agreement.
Invenergy says the wind farm supported more than 300 jobs during peak construction and will create 14 permanent full-time operations and maintenance jobs. In addition, Santa Rita East will contribute approximately $5 million annually to the local economy through tax payments, as well as lease payments to participating landowners, according to Invenergy.
Mick Baird, senior vice president of renewable development for Invenergy, says, “We are proud to have partnered with AEP Renewables on the sale and long-term operations of the project and to be supporting the goals of corporate environmental sustainability leaders Grupo Bimbo, Merck and Novartis.”
With the completion of this wind farm, Invenergy has surpassed $5 billion in capital investment in Texas.
