NextEra Energy Resources announced that it has completed the previously declared acquisition of three wind farms from Babcock & Brown. The three operating wind farms acquired by the company have a combined capacity of 184.5 MW. NextEra Energy Resources is a leading wind power generator in North America.
The three projects acquired by NextEra Energy Resources are Majestic Wind Energy Center, Butler Ridge Wind Energy Center, and Wessington Springs Wind Energy Center. The Majestic Wind Energy Center has a capacity of 79.5 MW generated from 54 GE 1.5-MW turbines. The project is located in Carson County, Texas, northeast of Amarillo. The entire output from this facility is purchased by Southwestern Electric Power Company under a long-term contract. The Southwestern Electric Power Company is a subsidiary of AEP.
The second wind farm, Butler Ridge Wind Energy Center is located in Dodge County, Wisconsin, northwest of Milwaukee. The total capacity of this wind farm is 54 MW, which is generated from 36 GE 1.5-MW wind turbines. A certain percentage of the output is sold to Wisconsin Public Power under a long-term contract. Midwest utilities are expected to purchase the remaining output to meet their increasing renewable portfolio standard requirements.
The third wind farm, Wessington Springs Wind Energy Center, is capable of generating 51 MW of electricity from 34 GE 1.5-MW wind turbines. This facility is located in Jerauld County, South Dakota, south of Wessington Springs. The entire output from this facility is sold under a long-term contract to Heartland Consumer Power District.
President and CEO of NextEra Energy Resources, Mitch Davidson, said that the acquisition is consistent with the company’s strategy to increase its wind energy portfolio. Davidson commented further that the company is delighted that more than 80% of the total output from the acquired wind facilities is sold to creditworthy counterparties under long-term contracts.