BP Wind Energy begins construction of 419MW wind farm in US

BP Wind Energy and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power announced the start of full construction work at its $800m Flat Ridge 2 wind farm in Kansas, US.

The facility is located on a 66,000-acre site and will have a generating capacity of 419MW enough to meet the power needs of 125,000 homes.

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback said “We congratulate BP and Sempra U.S. Gas and Power for their innovative thinking and planning in moving this project into full construction.”

BP Wind Energy president and chief executive officer John Graham said “Wind is not only a growing part of BP’s energy portfolio, it is an increasingly important provider of low-carbon electricity and a vital contributor to U.S. energy supplies,” Graham said.

Under long term power purchase agreements, the companies sold the power generated by the wind farm to Associated Electric Cooperative and Southwestern Electric Power Company, a unit of American Electric Power.

BP and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power are finalizing joint venture agreements for the additional capacity.

The joint venture partners said that power from another 51MW expansion project to be completed this year has been sold to generation and transmission cooperative Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation, under a separate long-term agreement.

BP will operate the Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm and the expansion project, once the facilities come online.