Duke Energy to start building 400 MW of Texas wind farms

Sep 26, 2013 - Duke Energy Renewables, a unit of US utility Duke Energy Corp (NYSE:DUK), on Thursday unveiled two 200-MW wind projects in Texas whose construction is to start in the closing quarter of 2013.

The Los Vientos III and IV wind farms, to be located in Starr County, are expected to produce enough electricity together for some 120,000 average households. They are to come on stream in early 2015 and mid-2016, respectively.

Earlier today Danish wind turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems A/S (CPH:VWS) said it had secured a contract to supply all the turbines for the projects. The order is for 200 pieces of the V110-2.0 MW machine and delivery is to commence in the first half of 2014.

Community-owned utility Austin Energy has agreed to buy the power and renewable energy credits generated by both Los Vientos III and IV under two power purchase agreements (PPAs) with 25-year terms. The projects are to allow the utility to reach its 35% renewables target four years earlier than planned. In 2010 the Austin City Council set that goal for 2020.

Austin Energy is also buying the output of Duke’s 202-MW Los Vientos II wind farm.

When the Los Vientos III and IV are fully operational, Duke Energy will have over 2,000 MW of wind farm capacity.

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