Brookfield Renewable begins operations at 102MW wind farm in US

Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners has begun commercial operation at its 102MW wind farm in located in California, US.

Brookfield Renewable chief executive officer Richard Legault said the project was in its early stages of development when the company first became involved.

"We were able to quickly bring our expertise to bear, and in the span of approximately one year, secured a long-term power purchase agreement, an interconnection agreement and project financing, as well as the completion of all other engineering and commercial requirements which enabled construction to begin", said Legault.

"This project demonstrates our ability to deploy both capital and operating expertise and to work together with our stakeholders to build significant value."

"We are pleased to add to our operating footprint in California and grateful to all those who played a part in the development of this project and bringing it to completion on time, scope and on budget.

Under a 20-year power purchase agreement, Brookfield Renewable will sell all the generated power from the wind farm to a local utility.

The project which also secured a financing and an interconnection agreement is expected to meet the power needs of 26,000 homes in the region on an annual basis.

The company and its institutional partners now own 274MW of operating wind generating capacity in the Tehachapi region, following its increase in interest from 50% to 100% earlier this year.