Duke Energy has declared its designs to build a large-level wind power generation facility in Texas. Duke Energy Renewables, a business unit of Duke Energy, will construct, own and manage the 202 MW Los Vientos II Windpower Project. It has entered into a 25 year accord with Austin Energy to vend the power generated from the facility along with the renewable energy credits.
The Los Vientos II wind project will be located in the same place where the first stage of the project is located in Willacy County around 20 mi inland from the Gulf of Mexico and around 120 mi south of Corpus Christi. The project also has plans to locate a part of it close to Cameron County and awaits the decision of its officials. If Cameron County negates to part-take in the project, the full construction of the Los Vientos II wind farm may be constructed within the limits of Willacy County.
The construction of the Los Vientos II Windpower Project is expected to commence by December and Duke Energy Renewables anticipates completing the construction to make the wind farm ready for commercial production by 2012 year end. The project is the second phase of a 402 MW wind power generation project declared by the company in August this year. The company is planning to finalize the number of wind turbines to be installed in the second phase after settling down the supply accord with the manufacturer of wind turbine.
The first phase of the project Los Vientos I Windpower with a capability to produce 200 MW power will also be ready to commence its commercial power generation by 2012 year end. CPS Energy, an Antonio-based company, has entered into a 25 year accord to buy the power generated from the 1st phase of the project.