EDF's Spinning Spur Windfarm Goes Online in Texas Panhandle

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--EDF Renewable Energy (San Diego, California) announced its 194-megawatt (MW) Spinning Spur III wind power project, located 50 miles west of Amarillo, Texas, has started commercial operation. This puts the project three months ahead of its anticipated completion date. Blattner Energy (Avon, Minnesota) and Cielo Wind Power (Austin, Texas) performed engineering, construction and completion services.

Spinning Spur III comprises 97 V-100 Vestas wind turbines, each capable of generating 2 MW. Located in Oldham County, Texas, it will be owned and operated by EDF Renewables. It joins EDF's operational Vega Spinning Spur and Spinning Spur II windfarms. EDF's total generating capacity in Texas is 1.066 gigawatts (GW).

Electricity generated by Spinning Spur III will feed the municipal utilities of Garland Power & Light and Georgetown Utility Systems under long-term power purchase agreements.

The project is within the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone, which is expected to be completed in December. It will comprise 3,600 miles and provide more than 18,500 MW of energy throughout the Lone Star state.

However, pending legislation would put an end to the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone initiative. It also would close the Renewable Portfolio Standard, which was adopted in 1999 and had its goals increased in 2005.

Texas has exceeded the goals of both of these initiatives and leads the nation in wind energy production.

However, cutting these programs could prove painful as it would leave Texas leaders wondering how they will respond to President Barack Obama's Clean Power Plan proposal. The plan requires the state to cut 200 billion pounds of carbon dioxide in the next 20 years.

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