EDF Renewable Energy Continues Aggressive Wind Energy Expansion In Texas

EDF Renewable Energy is aggressively expanding its wind energy portfolio in Texas and may soon cross the milestone of 1,000 MW operational capacity in the state. The company has entered into an agreement to acquire part of a new wind energy project in Texas.

EDF Renewable Energy is planning to acquire 200 MW of the 500 MW Hereford Wind Project in Texas. The construction of the project is expected to start later this year so as to avail themselves of the benefit of production tax credit. The company has an option of acquiring the balance 300 MW capacity as well.

The project is being developed by Lincoln Renewable Energy which is active in both solar and wind energy sectors. The company has a 10 MW solar power project operational in New Jersey and is actively developing solar and wind energy projects in 13 states. Two solar power projects in cumulative capacity 30 MW in California by the company have entered into power purchase agreements.

In December 2012, EDF Renewable Energy commissioned a 150 MW wind energy project. The Bobcat Bluff project was also acquired by the company from Element Power in March 2012. Earlier this year, EDF Renewable Energy attracted $200 million in investment from Google for its 161 MW wind energy project in Oldham County.

In 2012, EDF Renewable Energy completed five wind energy projects in the US with a total generation capacity of 654.3 MW. At the end of 2012, the company had an operational capacity of 1,785 MW in the US.

EDF Renewable Energy has taken full advantage of the friendly transmission infrastructure available in Texas. In 2008, the Public Utility Commission (PUC) of Texas started work on the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone. The PUC assigned $4.93 billion for the construction of transmission network which would eventually transmit 18,456 megawatts (MW) of wind power from West Texas and the Panhandle to highly populated metropolitan areas of the state.