As part of its renewable growth strategy, Southern Power, a subsidiary of Southern Co., has acquired the 276 MW Bethel Wind Energy Center in Texas from Invenergy Services LLC.
Blattner Energy constructed the project, which Invenergy Services will operate and maintain upon completion, which is expected this month. Construction began in January of last year.
Located in Castro County, the Bethel Wind Energy Center comprises 120 GE wind turbines. The majority of the electricity and associated renewable energy credits (RECs) will be sold under a long-term agreement with Google Energy. Southern Power, through its subsidiaries, will retain the remainder of the electricity and associated RECs, which it may keep or sell.
“Bethel Wind is an important piece of our renewable portfolio as we expand our wind generating capacity in 2017,” says Buzz Miller, Southern Power’s president and CEO.
Recently, the company acquired two wind farms in Texas from EDF Renewable Energy: the 174 MW Salt Fork Wind Facility and the 126 MW Tyler Bluff Wind Facility.
With the addition of the Bethel Wind Energy Center, Southern Power owns more than 3.2 GW of renewable generation across 36 solar, wind and biomass facilities either announced, acquired or under construction. In total, the Southern Co. system has added or announced more than 6.5 GW of renewable generation since 2012.
Southern Power says this particular project aligns with the company’s overall business strategy of strengthening its wholesale business through acquiring and constructing generating assets substantially covered by long-term contracts.
