Platte River Power Authority ("Platte River") and Invenergy Wind LLC (“Invenergy”) announce the start of commercial operations of the final phase of Invenergy’s Spring Canyon Expansion Wind Energy Center (“Spring Canyon Expansion”).
Platte River will purchase all of the energy produced at Spring Canyon Expansion. That's equivalent to the average energy used by about 28,000 homes in Platte River's owner municipalities—Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont, and Loveland, Colorado. Beginning in 2015, roughly 30 percent of the power consumed annually in the four municipalities will come from carbon free resources (19 percent hydropower and 11 percent wind).
The 60 megawatt (MW) Spring Canyon Expansion features 35 GE 1.7-100 wind turbines and is located near the Town of Peetz in Logan County, Colorado, about 25 miles northeast of the City of Sterling. The site is near Invenergy’s original Spring Canyon Energy facility, a 60 MW wind farm in operation since 2006.
“We are delighted to begin receiving energy from this great new resource," said Jackie Sargent, Platte River's general manager and CEO. As the latest demonstration of our commitment to diversify our generation resource portfolio, the purchase from Spring Canyon will triple the amount of wind energy we supply to the utilities of our owner municipalities."
“This is an important milestone for Invenergy as we expand our operating wind portfolio in Colorado and continue to invest in the state’s economy,” said Jim Shield, Invenergy’s Chief Development Officer. “Through job creation and increased tax revenue, Spring Canyon Expansion is a win-win for the local area, and we thank our host community for its continued support. It’s also been a pleasure to work with Platte River in bringing this wind farm to fruition.”
Construction on Spring Canyon Expansion began late last year. Wanzek Construction served as the general contractor and ECI performed engineering services.