Apex sells 303-MW Oklahoma wind project to Allete

Apex Clean Energy on Friday said it has sold a 303-MW wind project in Oklahoma, together with negotiated off-take deals, to a unit of US energy company Allete Inc (NYSE:ALE).

The Diamond Spring project will be the largest wind asset owned by Allete Clean Energy, which plans to start building the plant this year. Commercial operations are slated to begin in 2020.

The sale includes two 15-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with unnamed Fortune 500 companies for up to 228 MW of the project’s capacity. The names of the particular off-takers will be announced at a later point. The output from the remaining capacity will be sold to the commercial and industrial (C&I) market.

The Diamond Spring wind farm will be located in Oklahoma’s Johnston and Pontotoc Counties and will expand Allete Clean Energy’s wind portfolio to around 1 GW. It is estimated to bring over USD 48 million (EUR 42.8m) in tax revenue to the local communities. The plant is expected to generate enough electricity to supply 114,000 households, once operational.

“The southern Oklahoma location is strategic in that it provides a new beach-head in the highly attractive Southwest Power Pool where significant potential exists for serving new customers in the utility and corporate and industrial segments,” commented Allan S Rudeck Jr, Allete Clean Energy’s president.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.892)

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