World’s second largest wind farm for Texas

FPL Energy, the largest US generator of wind power, based in Juno Beach, Florida has announced the development of the world’s second largest wind-powered electric generating facility to be located on King Mountain in Upton County, Texas. The project will have a generating capacity of 278 megawatts, but will be 22-MW short of the world’s largest plant, another FPL Energy project, on the Oregon-Washington boundary (see related story) and beats the 260-MW US Department of Energy’s Nevada Test Site into third place. The plant is also an additional boost to the US wind industry, which was already set to increase by 800% from 2000-1 (see related story).

FPL Energy currently owns and operates a 1,000-megawatt natural gas plant in Paris, Texas and the 75-megawatt Southwest Mesa Wind Farm in West Texas. In addition, there are two plants currently under construction, a 535-megawatt natural gas plant in Bastrop, near Austin, and the 160-megawatt Woodward Mountain wind power facility, also in the Midland-Odessa area. The company expects to add up to 1,000-MW of wind energy capacity to its portfolio by the end of 2001.

“We are pleased to be enhancing our portfolio in Texas, where demand for electricity is growing and state regulators are encouraging development of a robust wholesale market, particularly in renewable sources and clean-burning natural gas,” commented FPL Energy President Lew Hay.