Duke Energy hosts dedication ceremony for 200-MW Oklahoma wind project

More than 100 supporters attended a recent dedication ceremony for Duke Energy Renewables’ Frontier Windpower Project, a 200-MW facility near Blackwell, Oklahoma.

“Wind energy is progressive and beneficial to the economy of Oklahoma,” said State Rep. John Pfeiffer, who was the keynote speaker at the event. “I’m grateful to companies like Duke Energy Renewables that are unlocking the potential of this important resource to the benefit of our state.”

The wind facility, located in Kay County, became operational in late December 2016. City Utilities of Springfield, Mo., is purchasing the power from the Frontier Windpower Project under a 22-year agreement.

“The support of community leaders, landowners, vendors, and our customer, City Utilities of Springfield, made a project of this scale possible,” said Rob Caldwell, President, Duke Energy Renewables and Distributed Energy Technology. “After celebrating the success of the Frontier project, we are exploring the potential of bringing more wind power to Oklahoma.”

Duke Energy Renewables partnered with the Blackwell Industrial Authority for Frontier’s operations and maintenance building.

“Rarely does a project, by design, have a multigenerational economic impact on a region like Duke Energy Renewables’ Frontier wind farm,” said John Robertson, executive director of Blackwell Industrial Authority. “Blackwell, Oklahoma, is fortunate to have been selected for their operations, assuring decades of high-tech jobs and investment in our rural location.”

The 200-MW Frontier Wind produces enough emissions-free electricity to power about 60,000 average homes.