Duke Energy to construct two wind power projects in Texas

Duke Energy Renewables, a commercial business unit of Duke Energy, will construct two large-scale wind power projects totalling 400MW in South Texas.

The projects, the Los Vientos III and IV Windpower Projects, are located approximately 100 miles west of Brownsville near Rio Grande City in Starr County. Vestas will supply 200 2-MW turbines for the two wind projects.

Each project will produce 200MW of emissions-free electricity, which is enough to collectively power about 120,000 homes. Both the projects will be owned and operated by Duke Energy Renewables.

The power generated from the wind farms will be sold to Austin Energy under two 25-year agreements. Austin Energy also purchases the power from Duke Energy Renewables’ Los Vientos II Windpower Project in Willacy and Cameron Counties.

Construction of the projects will commence in the fourth quarter of 2013, with an in-service date expected in early 2015 for Los Vientos III and mid-2016 for Los Vientos IV. Once operational, the 400MW of power produced by Los Vientos III and IV will bring Duke Energy’s total wind-generated capacity to more than 2,000MW.

Duke Energy Renewables vice president Milton Howard, project developer, said, "We are proud to be partnering with Austin Energy and the leaders, landowners and people of Starr County.

"Thanks to them, we will be able to bring jobs to the area during project construction, and once complete, Los Vientos III and IV will continue to boost economic development, support the local school districts, and be a source of dependable tax revenue for years to come," added Howard.