Construction firm and developer team up for their 19th wind project

Mortenson Construction, a North American renewable energy contractor, was recently selected by San Diego-based developer enXco to build the Pacific Wind Project. Located on the south slope of the Tehachapi Mountains in Kern County California, the 8,500 acres project will generate 140 MW.

Mortenson will be responsible for the design and construction of access roads, foundations, erection, overhead and underground electrical collection system, and a 14,400-ft² O&M facility that will support the Pacific Wind Project as well as other enXco projects slated for development in the area. Construction will begin in December 2011, and is expected to be complete in August, 2012.

The Pacific Wind Project is the 19th wind power facility that Mortenson has constructed in partnership with enXco. Together the partnership has provided nearly 2 GW of energy throughout the United States. In early October, Mortenson completed construction of enXco’s 205.5 MW Lakefield Wind Project in southern Minnesota. In Minnesota alone, the enXco – Mortenson partnership has developed and constructed about 36% of the state’s wind energy capacity.

“Our long-established relationship with enXco represents a cohesive partnership that reinforces our commitment to renewable energy though out the United States,” said Tim Maag, a vice president and general manager of Mortenson’s Renewable Energy Groups.

Since entering the renewable energy market in 1995, the construction firm has built more than 100 wind projects generating more than 11,000 MW of renewable power across the U.S. and Canada. In addition to wind power, Mortenson’s Renewable Energy Groups, also construct facilities that generate solar power, biofuels and hydro-electric power.

Mortenson Construction

www.mortenson.com/wind

Wind farm approved for construction, but no buyers

Wind developer EnXco won approval from North Dakota regulators to build its latest 150-turbine wind farm. A minor problem may be that the company does not yet have a customer for power from the Merricourt Wind Project. Intended buyer Xcel Energy dropped out in April, citing issues with protecting two endangered birds.

EnXco President and CEO Tristan Grimbert says his company still wants to build the project with Xcel’s participation even though the two are argueing over the termination. He said the project could be completed this year. “Issues that Xcel raised in the termination have been dealt with,” Grimbert said. One issue, EnXco now has an agreement with U.S. wildlife officials on how to protect the piping plover and whooping crane. EnXco would be willing to talk to Xcel about reducing the $400 million price tag, recognizing that the cost of wind power has declined in the past three years. If the project isn’t built, he said, EnXco faces a significant loss because it has committed to buy 100 GE turbines.

EnXco must decide whether to move ahead without a second company, which would mean further costs and risks. Grimbert says it’s possible, but unlikely. No other utility is ready to step into the project.

Xcel
www.xcelenergy.com

EnXco
www.enxco.com

50-MW for Washington

The 50-MW Linden Wind Project in southern Washington has completed construction. The wind farm consists of 25 REpower MM92 turbines in Klickitat County, and has been under construction since November 2009.

The project, developed by enXco and owned by the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA), will bring cleanly generated power to the SCPPA generation portfolio on behalf of participating members Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and the City of Glendale.

The utility will receive 90% (45 MW) of power from the wind farm, representing about 0.5% of its renewable portfolio goal of 20% by end of 2010. The project will use existing transmission to deliver the power to the Los Angeles area.

enXco www.enxco.com

REpower contracts 143 MW with enXco in California

REpower Systems AG has signed a delivery agreement  for up to 143.5 megawatts with the enXco – the American arm of the French EDF Energies Nouvelles Company. The 70 2.05 MW REpower MM92 turbinesare intended for a wind farm project in the West Coast market for delivery in mid-2011.

REpower and enXco have already been cooperating in the USA since 2006 and have implemented a series of wind farm projects in California, Washington and Indiana. With this contract, REpower USA Corp. has installed or sold 390 wind turbines in the US which combine to nearly 800 MW of renewable wind energy.

Steve Dayney, CEO of REpower USA Corp., says “A high degree of trust has been developed through what has become a multi-year collaboration with enXco and EDF EN. This new order from our customer strengthens our presence and competitiveness in the US wind energy market.”

“This order reflects our need to secure turbines for the recovering West Coast market where enXco is very well positioned due to the quality of the sites we have secured in California and the Pacific Northwest”, stated Tristan Grimbert, president & CEO of enXco. “This conditional order demonstrates our continued strength in project development and ability to successfully procure turbines.”

enXco Starts Construction of Linden Wind Project

enXco has started construction on the 50 megawatt Linden Wind Project that will bring carbon-free electricity to the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) generation portfolio on behalf of participating members Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and the City of Glendale. The renewable energy source is expected to be in operation in early 2010 as part of LADWP’s and SCPPA’s effort to provide clean, renewable energy.

The Linden Wind Farm, located in Klickitat County, Washington, consists of 25 REpower MM92 turbines. The project received SCPPA board approval in August 2009 and the Notice To Proceed was delivered in early October. Developed by enXco, Linden Wind Project will be transferred to SCPPA upon completion.

LADWP will provide project management for the SCPPA participants. The utility will receive 90 percent (45 megawatts) of power produced by the wind farm, representing about 0.5 percent of the utility’s renewable portfolio goal of 20 percent by 2010. The project will utilize existing transmission to deliver the clean wind power to Los Angeles.