USA - NextEra completes purchase of Kansas wind farm

The project, located in Gray County in southwest Kansas, is comprised of 72 Siemens 2.3- MW turbines spread across approximately 14,000 acres. All of the power from the project is being sold to the Tennessee Valley Authority under a 20-year power purchase agreement. An affiliate of NextEra Energy Resources owns and operates the project.

“The addition of the Cimarron Wind Energy Center is consistent with our strategy to add fully-contracted clean energy projects to our portfolio,” said Armando Pimentel, president and CEO of NextEra Energy Resources. “In addition to generating clean, emission-free energy, this project will have a positive impact on the local economy for years to come. With continued public policy support for wind energy generation, we look forward to bringing the economic and environmental benefits of wind energy to other communities across the nation.”

“CPV is extremely pleased to have worked with NextEra Energy Resources on this transaction; a company that is leading the way increasing the amount of clean, renewable resources available to power our electricity-intensive lives,” said Sean Finnerty, senior vice president of renewable development, CPV Renewable Energy Company. “With excellent wind resources, an ideal location, a 20-year contract with a blue-chip off-taker, and dedicated firm transmission, Cimarron Wind Energy Center is a prime example of the type of clean energy project CPV is proud to develop.”

NextEra Energy Resources is no stranger to Kansas. The company currently owns and operates the 112-MW Gray County Wind Energy Center and the approximately 99-MW Ensign Wind Energy Center that was brought into service in November 2012. Together, NextEra Energy Resources’ three Kansas Wind Energy Centers are capable of generating enough power for more than 100,000 homes.

The Cimarron and Ensign Wind Energy Centers are part of the approximately 1,500 MW of U.S. wind projects that NextEra Energy Resources expects to bring into service by the end of 2012. This will be the biggest wind program ever completed in this country in a single year and will push NextEra Energy Resources’ total wind portfolio over the 10,000 MW mark.

NextEra Energy Resources, LLC (together with affiliated entities, “NextEra Energy Resources”), is a clean energy leader and is one of the largest competitive energy suppliers in North America, operating in 22 states and Canada as of year-end 2011. NextEra Energy Resources is the largest generator in the United States of renewable energy from the wind and sun, owning and operating approximately 8,569 megawatts of wind and 158 megawatts of solar power generation at the end of 2011. The business operates clean, emissions-free nuclear power generation facilities in New Hampshire, Iowa and Wisconsin as part of the NextEra Energy nuclear fleet, which has the third largest number of commercial nuclear power units in the United States. NextEra Energy Resources is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Fla.-based NextEra Energy, Inc.

Competitive Power Ventures, LLC (CPV) is dedicated to increasing America’s sustainability; both economically and environmentally. Using domestically-available energy sources, like wind and natural gas, and partnering with host communities to support their tax base and school districts, CPV works to stabilize and improve local and state economies. CPV’s corporate mission is built around a belief that progressive companies can be powerful agents of change for a better world and a cleaner environment. To this end, we have focused our core activities around developing and operating energy facilities that can make a significant difference in improving the environments and economic well-being of a region.

Headquartered in Silver Spring, MD, with offices in Braintree, MA, San Francisco, CA and Toronto, Ontario, Canada the company currently has 5,800 MW of conventional generation projects in various stages of development across North America. The company’s Asset Management division has ramped up to more than 5,600 MWs of natural gas generation and wind power under management. CPV Renewable Energy Company is currently developing 2,300 MWs of wind power projects across North America.