Geronimo Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Grid Plc, announced commercial operations for its Crocker Wind Farm, a 200-MW wind energy project located in Clark County, South Dakota. Crocker has virtual power purchase agreements in place with leading corporations, Walmart and Cargill. The project was built by Wanzek Construction and utilizes GE 2.7-116 wind turbines.
“Crocker coming online represents the culmination of many years of collaboration with the community and has and will continue to bring economic development to rural South Dakota,” said Blake Nixon, CEO of Geronimo Energy. “Crocker is unique in that it is 100% contracted by corporate virtual power purchase agreements. Increasingly more corporations are making the choice to include renewable energy procurement in their sustainability goals, and Geronimo is proud to be playing a role in our industry’s continued growth and expansion into corporate power purchasing.”
Crocker Wind Farm, Clark County, South Dakota.
Geronimo began working with local landowners to develop Crocker with the intent to positively impact its local and state host communities. It’s estimated that the wind farm provided hundreds of millions of dollars of economic development, through job creation, increased local spending and capital infrastructure improvements.
“Sourcing from wind energy projects, like the Crocker Wind Farm, brings Walmart closer to our goal to be supplied by 50% renewable energy by 2025,” said Mark Vanderhelm, VP of Energy for Walmart. “The energy we’ll procure from this facility represents a significant step in our renewable energy journey.”
In the first 20 years of operation, the project is anticipated to further benefit the economy with tens of millions in tax revenue, landowner payments, and new full-time job creation, as well as $800,000 in charitable funding.
“We’re excited to see the Crocker Wind Farm begin operations,” said Peter Dahm, Cargill’s sustainability director for Operations and Natural Resources. “Not only will the wind farm play a vital role in helping us reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, [but] we’re also proud of the positive impact it will have on the Clark County community and helping local landowners diversify their source of income.”
News item from Geronimo Energy
Filed Under: News, Projects
