Southern Power brings live 148-MW wind park in Texas

Southern Power announced on Friday it has launched commercial operations at its 148-MW Cactus Flats wind park in Texas’ Concho county.

The company, part of US energy group Southern Co (NYSE:SO), bought the plant last July from Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc (RES). It noted that the specific project is in lne with its business strategy of buying and developing projects covered by long-term contracts “with counterparties with strong credit support.“

The Cactus Flats wind farm uses 43 Vestas turbines and its construction was managed by RES, which served as the developer and constructor of the site. The generated power and associated renewable energy credits (RECs) are being sold under separate power purchase agreements with consumer foods retailer General Mills (NYSE:GIS) and industrial giant General Motors (NYSE:GM), which in turn can either keep or sell the RECs. General Motors will buy 50 MW of the wind park’s output to power 16 of its US facilities and support its goal of meeting or matching its entire electricity consumption with renewables by 2050.

Operations and maintenance (O&M) services for the wind park are provided by Vestas Wind Systems A/S (CPH:VWS) and Southern Power, which is also in charge of the balance of plant operations.

The Cactus Flats plant is Southern Power's fifth wind farm in Texas. The company has a renewable energy portfolio of 3,000 MW, more than 1,600 MW of comes from wind. The assets are either operational or under construction.

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