BP Wind Energy to build 419-MW Flat Ridge 2 wind farm in Kansas' Barber, Harper, Kingman, Sumner counties, will sell 314 MW to Associated Electric Cooperative under PPA; construction to begin in Q4, commercial operation slated for year-end 2012

Rachel Carter

Rachel Carter

WICHITA, Kansas , October 4, 2011 (press release) – BP Wind Energy today welcomed special guests including Kansas Governor Sam Brownback to a wind-blade signing event to announce its plans to build the 419 megawatt Flat Ridge 2 Wind farm.

BP Wind Energy today welcomed special guests including Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, state legislators and company executives from Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. (AECI) to a wind-blade signing event to announce its plans to build the 419 megawatt (MW) Flat Ridge 2 Wind farm in Barber, Harper, Kingman and Sumner Counties, Kansas. The company also announced that it has entered into a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) totaling 314 MW from its proposed Flat Ridge 2 Wind farm with AECI.

Governor Brownback was joined by other state and local elected officials in celebrating the announcements of the proposed Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm: “We have enjoyed working closely with BP Wind Energy to create jobs and grow the economy in our state. Kansans have a proud history of meeting the needs of the world. We export wheat to feed the hungry and will now be exporting our latest crop - clean, reliable and affordable wind energy to power the needs of our nation,” he said.

The Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm will be located on a 66,000-acre site approximately 43 miles southwest of Wichita in south-central Kansas. The wind farm will utilize 262 GE wind turbines each with a rated capacity of 1.6 MW. BP Wind Energy is actively marketing the remaining capacity to other customers in the Midwest US.

“The Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm is an investment of approximately $800 million and demonstrates BP’s continued commitment to the state of Kansas,” said John Graham, president and CEO, BP Wind Energy. “Today’s announcement of a PPA with AECI is a milestone in the project’s development that will create some 500 jobs during peak construction and will provide over $1 million annually to the local communities without impacting traditional farming and ranching activities.”

“The focus for us at Associated Electric Cooperative is low-cost, reliable power supply for 875,000 co-op consumers in three states," said Roger Clark, director of AECI's Engineering and Operations Division. “This long-term agreement ensures we will continue as Missouri's wind energy leader to supply low-cost, renewable electricity to our member-consumers in Missouri, northeast Oklahoma and southeast Iowa.”

The Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm is 100 percent owned and will be operated by BP Wind Energy. Subject to receiving all the necessary permits to proceed, it is anticipated that initial site construction work will start in the fourth quarter of 2011. The wind farm is expected to become commercially operational by year end 2012, and on completion will be the largest to be built in the state of Kansas.

About BP Wind Energy
BP Wind Energy is a principal owner and operator of wind power facilities with interests in 13 wind farms. BP Wind Energy has a gross generating capacity of nearly 1,600 MW – enough electricity to power approximately 500,000 average American homes. For more information, visit the company's website.

Associated Electric Cooperative Inc.
Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. is owned by and provides wholesale power to six regional and 51 local electric cooperative systems in Missouri, southeast Iowa and northeast Oklahoma that serve about 875,000 customers. AECI’s mission is to provide an economical and reliable power supply and support services to its members, including its “Take Control & Save” energy efficiency program. AECI is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Notes to Editors
Included in BP Wind Energy’s portfolio in Kansas

The 50 MW Flat Ridge 1 Wind Farm is located in Barber County, Kansas some 60 miles southwest of Wichita. The wind farm utilizes 20 Clipper 2.5 MW wind turbine generators and became operational in February 2009. Power from the Flat Ridge 1 Wind farm has been sold to Westar Energy, Inc. under a long-term power purchase agreement.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.

Share:

About Us

We deliver market news & information relevant to your business.

We monitor all your market drivers.

We aggregate, curate, filter and map your specific needs.

We deliver the right information to the right person at the right time.

Our Contacts

1990 S Bundy Dr. Suite #380,
Los Angeles, CA 90025

+1 (310) 553 0008

About Cookies On This Site

We collect data, including through use of cookies and similar technology ("cookies") that enchance the online experience. By clicking "I agree", you agree to our cookies, agree to bound by our Terms of Use, and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. For more information on our data practices and how to exercise your privacy rights, please see our Privacy Policy.