Jun 11 2015
InterGen and IEnova today announced that the Energía Sierra Juárez wind project began commercial operations in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico. InterGen has a 50 percent interest in the project with Infraestructura Energética Nova, S.A.B. de C.V. “IEnova.” Energía Sierra Juárez is the first cross-border wind generation project between Mexico and the U.S.
Energía Sierra Juárez is an approximately USD $300 million, 155 megawatt (“MW”) wind generation project consisting of 47 Vestas turbines of 3.3 MW each. The turbines are situated along Baja California´s Sierra de Juarez mountain range, one of the strongest wind resources on the west coast of North America.
Through a 20-year power purchase agreement with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), the project will interconnect with SDG&E’s Southwest Powerlink transmission system east of San Diego via a new cross-border transmission line. The project could also potentially connect to the Mexican power grid.
“As InterGen celebrates its 20th year in business in 2015, Energía Sierra Juárez represents an important step in our history,” said Neil H. Smith, InterGen’s president and CEO. “The project is our first to generate power from wind, which will provide an important alternative source of renewable energy to southern California. Renewable energy is an expected area of growth for us in the future. We are also committed to expanding our business in Mexico. Our partnership with IEnova is one more successful example of InterGen’s ability to provide energy solutions to our varied customers around the world.”
Carlos Ruiz Sacristan, chairman of the board and CEO of IEnova, said, “Energía Sierra Juárez wind farm is part of IEnova’s commitment with renewable energy projects. This project will contribute to the sustainable development of the cross border region.”
ABOUT INTERGEN
InterGen is a global power generation firm with 11 power plants in operation, representing a total generation capacity of 7,686 megawatts (6,101 net equity MW). In addition, InterGen operates three compression facilities and a 65-km gas pipeline and has invested in a 155-MW wind farm. A gas-powered power plant is currently under construction in Mexico. These facilities are located in the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Mexico and Australia. InterGen is jointly owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and China Huaneng Group/Guangdong Yudean Group. For more information, visit www.InterGen.com.
ABOUT IENOVA
IEnova, a Sempra Energy Company, develops, builds and operates energy infrastructure in Mexico. Our footprint in Mexico sprawls several lines of business encompassing the entire energy infrastructure value chain open to private investment in Mexico. As of 2014, we have almost 600 employees and we have invested more than $3.5* billion dollars in Mexico, making us one of the largest private energy companies in the country. We are the first private energy company to be listed in the Mexican Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.ienova.com.mx.
*Includes projects in operation and construction.