BP marks 1,000 wind turbines in US
With the official opening of Sherbino 2 wind farm in west Texas, BP Wind Energy marks a milestone in its five-year history, with more than 1,000 turbines now spinning across seven states.
Together with landowners and community leaders, Texas congressman Francisco Canseco was among the guests at a dedication ceremony on February 22 to mark the start of full commercial operations at the 20,000-acre site, located 30 miles east of Fort Stockton, in Pecos County.
"We can create a lot of energy here in Texas and projects like Sherbino 2 will ensure that we don't miss opportunities to make America more energy independent," Congressman Canseco said.
The strongest winds in the US blow through the country's rural central corridor, making the vast ranches and farms of Texas ideal places to maximise the capture of this renewable power source. With Sherbino 2 now online, BP has become one of the biggest generators of wind power in the country, just five years after operations began.
"Texas is a leader in promoting renewable power generation and this aligns well with BP's commitment to produce essential sources of energy and provide cost-competitive power to our customers, "said John Graham, president and chief executive officer, BP Wind Energy.
"We can create a lot of energy here in Texas and projects like Sherbino 2 will ensure that we don't miss opportunities to make America more energy independent," Congressman Canseco said.
The strongest winds in the US blow through the country's rural central corridor, making the vast ranches and farms of Texas ideal places to maximise the capture of this renewable power source. With Sherbino 2 now online, BP has become one of the biggest generators of wind power in the country, just five years after operations began.
"Texas is a leader in promoting renewable power generation and this aligns well with BP's commitment to produce essential sources of energy and provide cost-competitive power to our customers, "said John Graham, president and chief executive officer, BP Wind Energy.
By the end of 2012, the business will have invested almost $5 billion and will have a total electrical generating capacity of some 2,600 megawatts (MW), located across eight US states. That's enough power for more than 750,000 average American homes and almost enough to power the city of Houston.
"We have been building two to three projects each year since we started and have invested over $1 billion in wind power in Texas alone," adds Graham.
Sherbino 2 is fully owned and operated by BP Wind Energy. Its 60 turbines generate a total of 150 MW of electricity – enough to power 45,000 homes. Some 250 workers were employed during peak construction and twelve permanent staff now work to monitor and maintain the operating wind farm.
Economic development director of Fort Stockton, Doug May says: "From the first phases of construction, to the dedication event and on into the future, this farm has had and will continue to have a major positive impact on the economy of Pecos County."
Landowner D.A, Harral is proud to have the 1,000th turbine on his property, and acknowledges its significance: "Texas used to be about cattle, then it was about cattle, oil and gas," he says. "Now it's also about wind energy."
"We have been building two to three projects each year since we started and have invested over $1 billion in wind power in Texas alone," adds Graham.
Sherbino 2 is fully owned and operated by BP Wind Energy. Its 60 turbines generate a total of 150 MW of electricity – enough to power 45,000 homes. Some 250 workers were employed during peak construction and twelve permanent staff now work to monitor and maintain the operating wind farm.
Economic development director of Fort Stockton, Doug May says: "From the first phases of construction, to the dedication event and on into the future, this farm has had and will continue to have a major positive impact on the economy of Pecos County."
Landowner D.A, Harral is proud to have the 1,000th turbine on his property, and acknowledges its significance: "Texas used to be about cattle, then it was about cattle, oil and gas," he says. "Now it's also about wind energy."
Turbines – operated by BP and with partners - on 12 wind farms, by state:
- California: Edom Hills = 8
-
Colorado:
- Cedar Creek 1 = 274
- Cedar Creek 2 = 123
- Idaho: Goshen North = 83
- Indiana: Fowler Ridge (three farms) = 355
- Kansas: Flat Ridge = 20
- South Dakota: Titan phase 1 = 10
-
Texas:
- Silver Star 1 = 24
- Sherbino 1 = 50
- Sherbino 2 = 60
