Major Wind Projects of 2021

MAJOR U.S. WIND PROJECTS

COMPLETED IN 2021

2021 was a year of preparations for incoming offshore wind development in the United States, with industry players gearing up to realize the untapped energy potential just off the U.S. shoreline. Submarine transmission lines are being laid; ports are being established to manufacture and deploy offshore turbines; industry-related services are being established stateside and international resources in offshore development are being tapped; and curriculum is being developed to train technicians for an industry that is estimated to create 25,000 entry-level jobs alone. In addition to all of that, the U.S. onshore wind industry remains a consistent source of energy diversifi cation, putting up hundreds of megawatts in many different states, with a heavy focus on the South and Midwest. This next year is bound to see more concrete developments in offshore wind, complementing federal policy fast-tracking renewable energy deployment and putting the United States on a clearer path toward a carbon-neutral grid.

182-MW Maryneal Windpower Project powers on in Texas

Nolan County, Texas

Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions brought the 182-MW Maryneal Windpower Project to commercial operation in July. The Texas project is supplying cellular service provider Sprint with 173.3 MW of wind power through a 12-year virtual PPA, reducing the company’s carbon footprint by 9%. Wanzek Construction built the project made of 38 4.8-MW Nordex USA turbines, and the project created approximately 200 jobs during peak construction. RWE Renewables enters Ohio wind market with 250-MW project

Logan & Hardin counties, Ohio

RWE Renewables completed its fi rst wind power project in Ohio, a 250-MW wind farm located across two Northwest counties. The Scioto Ridge Wind Farm is composed of 75 Siemens Gamesa turbines and has the capacity to power 60,000 homes. Despite its history of industrial manufacturing, wind provides less than 2% of Ohio’s total electricity generation. Scioto Ridge will generate $75 million in payments over the next 25 years that will be given to local governments, school districts and landowners.

209-MW Reloj de Sol wind farm comes online in Texas

Zapata County, Texas

EDP Renewables completed a 209-MW wind farm in Texas last May. The Reloj de Sol Wind Farm joined the company’s four operating wind facilities in the state. The project created 101 full-time positions during construction and 10 permanent jobs for operating and maintaining the wind farm. Reloj de Sol is expected to pay $36 million over its operating lifetime to local governments and landowners.

Colorado utility is sole offtaker on 104-MW wind farm

Seibert, Colorado

Colorado residents in K.C. Electric Association’s service area are enjoying power produced by a recently completed 104-MW wind project. EDP Renewables constructed the Crossing Trails Wind Farm across Kit Carson and Cheyenne counties using 20 Vestas V1850 4.3MW and fi ve Vestas V136 3.6-MW wind turbines. Some components used on the turbines were manufactured in-state. Crossing Trails created more than 100 jobs and will employ six full-time team members to operate the wind farm.

Invenergy completes 486-MW segment of three-part Oklahoma wind farm project

Woods County, Oklahoma

Invenergy constructed the Sundance and Maverick Wind Energy Centers in North Central Oklahoma, the former 199MW and latter 287-MW wind farms in a larger portfolio of projects in the region. Interstate utility American Electric Power commissioned a 1,485-MW project portfolio called North Central Energy Facilities to provide its customers with clean energy. The third and fi nal facility, Traverse (999 MW), is expected to come online by early 2022. The total portfolio of projects represents a $2 billion investment in the region. Duke Energy Renewables builds its largest wind farm

Kay County, Oklahoma

Duke Energy Renewables completed the largest wind power project in its fl eet, a 350-MW facility built in Kay County, Oklahoma. Frontier Windpower II is an expansion of Frontier I, together generating 550 MW of wind energy. AT&T and Ball Corporation both have 15-year PPAs on Frontier I, totaling 321 MW. The project is made of 74 4.8-MW Nordex Group wind turbines and at peak construction employed about 250 people. Amshore Renewable Energy developed the project and Wanzek Construction was the construction contractor.

200-MW East Raymond wind farm supports Austin utility

Willacy and Cameron counties, Texas

East Raymond wind facility, a 200-MW onshore wind farm spanning Willacy and Cameron counties in Texas, started commercial operation in January 2021. East Raymond is powered by 91 Vestas V120 and V110 2.2-MW turbines that generate power for more than 60,000 households in the region. RWE Renewables developed the wind farm and Austin Energy signed a PPA on the project back in August 2019, offsetting more than 60% of the utility’s customer energy needs.

Avangrid Renewables builds 154.8-MW wind farm on South Dakota farmland

Deuel County, South Dakota

Avangrid Renewables completed construction of the 154.8-MW Tatanka Ridge Wind Farm in South Dakota in January 2021. The wind farm’s 56 turbines were constructed on 18,000 acres of corn and soybean farms and cattle ranches leased from over 100 landowners. Regional electric cooperative Dairyland Power Cooperative signed a 51.6-MW PPA on Tatanka Ridge that will power approximately 16,000 homes in its operating territory. Construction completed on 302-MW Indiana Crossroads Wind Farm

White County, Indiana

EDP Renewables North America developed a 302-MW wind facility in Indiana that will deliver clean energy to customers in Northern Indiana Public Service Company’s (NIPSCO) service territory. The Indiana Crossroads Wind Farm comprises 72 V150 4.5-MW Vestas turbines that were constructed by White Construction, a subsidiary of IEA. The project originated through a NIPSCO program that found clean energy developments were lower-cost options for its customers.

Developers upgrade and repower California wind farm

Livermore, California

East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) and Greenbacker Renewable Energy repowered a wind project in California in July. The Scott Haggerty Wind Energy Center was formerly made of 569 100-kW wind turbines that were replaced by just 23 new turbines, bringing the facility to 57.5 MW. The wind farm is supporting EBCE’s Renewable 100 program, joining a mix of wind and solar projects serving about 100,000 customers.