CHEYENNE, Wyo.—Duke Energy announced Wednesday that it plans to begin construction this spring on a 20-turbine wind plant near Cheyenne that will provide power for two regional utilities.
The Charlotte, N.C., company said it hopes to begin producing power at the 42-megawatt Silver Sage Windpower Project by the end of the year. Spokesman Greg Efthimiou said the necessary permits are in place to begin construction.
The plant will be located about 15 miles west of Cheyenne, adjacent to Duke Energy’s 29-megawatt Happy Jack wind farm. The company plans to complete a third Wyoming wind project, the 99-megawatt Campbell Hill Windpower Project near Casper, by the end of the year.
“The Silver Sage project is another sign of the momentum we’re building in our renewable energy business,” said Wouter van Kempen, president of Duke Energy Generation Services.
Black Hills Corp. said its subsidiary, Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power, will purchase 30 megawatts of Silver Sage energy under a 20-year agreement. The Platte River Power Authority, based in Fort Collins, Colo., has agreed to purchase the remaining 12 megawatts.
Officials say the Silver Sage wind farm will tie into existing transmission lines.
Duke Energy brought the Happy Jack wind farm online last fall. Cheyenne Light and Black Hills Power, another subsidiary of Black Hills Corp., have a 20-year agreement to buy the 29 megawatts of Happy Jack power.
One megawatt is enough electricity to power from 800 to 1,000 homes.
Jason Ketchum, a spokesman for Black Hills Corp., said Cheyenne Light’s peak demand was 168 megawatts, recorded last December.
“This agreement affirms our commitment to be an environmental steward and use a diversified portfolio to deliver economical energy to our customers,” said David R. Emery, Black Hills chairman, president and CEO.
