New wind farm adds to CPS Energy’s renewable energy portfolio

The nation’s largest municipal buyer of wind energy, CPS Energy, adds 150 MW of wind power to its growing renewable energy program with new Cedro Hills wind farm.

By Reve, www.evwind.es/index.php/ December 29, 2010

CPS Energy, the nation’s largest municipal buyer of wind energy, added 150 MW of wind power to its growing renewable energy program with the recent start of operations at the Cedro Hill Wind Farm.

Located in Bruni, Texas, 40 miles east of Laredo, Cedro Hill will generate enough electricity to provide service to more than 42,000 homes. The 20,000 acre wind power plant is home to 100 General Electric wind turbines, each capable of generating 1.5 MW for a total of 150 MW.

CPS Energy has committed to growing its renewable energy portfolio to 1,500 MW by the year 2020. The municipal utility entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement with Edison Mission Group (EMG), which officially commissioned the wind farm for commercial operation on November 28. EMG is one of the largest developers, owners and operators of wind energy in the country with 29 projects with a generating capacity of more than 1,800 megawatts in 10 states.

With the addition of the Cedro Hill Wind Farm, CPS Energy now has 859 MW of clean renewable Texas wind energy. The utility currently buys up to 341.3 MW from the Cottonwood Creek Wind Farm located southwest of Sweetwater and another 160.5 MW comes from the Desert Sky Wind Farm near Iraan. Recent additions include 76.8 MW from the Peñascal Wind Farm near Baffin Bay and 130.4 from the Papalote Creek Wind Farm near Taft.