Firms buy Colorado’s largest wind farm

More than 100 wind turbines will span 11,840 acres

Two wind energy companies have teamed up to buy what will become Colorado’s largest wind farm, a project now under construction in the southeastern corner of the state.

By Associated Press The Daily Camera

PPM Energy Inc. and Shell WindEnergy Inc. announced Monday they were purchasing the Colorado Green Wind Project from developer GE Wind Energy. The Denver Post first reported the $212 million deal.

The sale solidifies the future of the project, which is expected to become the nation’s fifth-largest wind farm when it is finished in December.

It is supposed to produce a peak capacity of 152 megawatts of electricity when high winds are blowing. However, because the wind is intermittent, the project is expected to have a general production capacity of one-third of that, or enough for about 54,000 consumers.

Xcel Energy’s Public Service Company of Colorado has made plans to buy the electrical production.

"We’re pleased that the project is moving forward," said Xcel spokesman Steve Roalstad.

The utility already has two small wind farms in northern Colorado to supply power to customers who volunteer to pay an extra charge for it.

But officials said the Lamar operation would fit into Xcel’s regular power supply. It was approved last year by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.

"The great thing about this project is that it had to compete with every other form of electrical generation — and it won," said Jan Johnson, a spokeswoman for the Portland, Ore.-based PPM Energy.

The project is to feature 108 wind turbines spanning 11,840 acres. The turbines’ footprint will cover less than 2 percent of the acreage, and the majority of the land will still be used for ranching.

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