GE, Enel Green Power To Build One of the Largest Minnesota Wind Farms

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General Electric (GE) and Enel Green Power North America are teaming up to build one of the biggest wind farms in the state of Minnesota.

Wind Turbine near Lake Benton, Minnesota

GE will commit $156 million in capital, or about 51% ownership stake in the project, which will see the 200 megawatt (MW) Prairie Rose project use GE made turbines, according to a statement released by GE.

Enel Green Power will commit a 49% ownership share, approximately $149 million in capital, and oversee the farm as project manager.
 
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Meanwhile, both Enel Green Power and GE raised about $190 million in tax equity from a syndicate headed by J.P. Morgan. When the project is completed, the tax equity will be invested and cut both GE and Enel Green Power’s stake in the wind project. Other companies in the syndicate include Wells Fargo Wind Holdings LLC and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

The new project will help boost the local economy, creating 300 construction jobs, while creating close to 12 permanent jobs, and bringing approximately $850,000 annually in local tax revenue.

On the environmental side, the wind farm will take 650,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually out of the atmosphere, while providing enough power to support 75,000 homes.

“This transaction showcases GE’s ability to provide both world-class technology and flexible financing structures for our customers and advances our long-term partnership with Enel Green Power, an established renewable energy leader,” Kevin Walsh, Managing Director of Power and Renewable Energy at GE Energy Financial Services, said in a statement.

The cost of the project is around $305 million and will be located near Harwick, Minnesota. Mortensen Construction will oversee the constructing of the wind farm. The project is set for completion by the end of this year. The new wind farm will supply all of its power under a 20-year agreement to Xcel Energy subsidiary Northern States Power Company.

Enel Green Power North American can further its ownership stake in the wind farm, with an option to buy an extra 26% from GE’s share later this year and in 2013.

Source: General Electric
Image Credit: Minnesota Wind Turbine, via Shutterstock


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Adam Johnston

is expected to complete the Professional Development Certificate in Renewable Energy from the University of Toronto by December 2017. Adam recently completed his Social Media Certificate from Algonquin College Continuing & Online Learning. Adam also graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a three-year B.A. combined major in Economics and Rhetoric, Writing & Communications in 2011. Adam owns a part-time tax preparation business. He also recently started up Salay Consulting and Social Media services, a part-time business which provides cleantech writing, analysis, and social media services. His eventual goal is to be a cleantech policy analyst. You can follow him on Twitter @adamjohnstonwpg or check out his business www.salayconsultiing.com.

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