Largest U.S. Single-Build Wind Farm Enters Commercial Operation

On tax day, Dominion and BP Wind Energy announced full commercial operation of Phase I of the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm in Benton County, Ind. Of the 400-MW facility, BP and Dominion are partners on approximately 300 MW. The two companies could expand the facility to a total of 750 MW in the future.

Construction of Phase I of the wind farm, which is 90 miles northwest of Indianapolis, began in the first quarter of 2008. Built by RMT Inc., Phase I utilizes 222 wind turbines: 182 Vestas 1.65-MW turbines with a hub height of 262 feet and a rotor diameter of 269 feet, and 40 Clipper 2.5-MW turbines with a hub height of approximately 262 feet and a rotor diameter of 314 feet. A total of 850 workers were employed at the peak of construction. A full-time staff of 36 is employed to monitor and maintain the first phase of the facility. BP Wind Energy is operator.

The power from Phase I has been sold under three long-term contracts: one contract with Dominion Energy Marketing Inc. for 200 MW and two contracts each for 100 MW with Indiana Michigan Power and Appalachian Power, both subsidiaries of American Electric Power.

Source: Dominion