Duke Energy to build Los Vientos V wind power project in Texas

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy Renewables, a commercial business unit of Duke Energy, today announced it will build, own and operate a 110-megawatt (MW) wind power project, Los Vientos V, in Starr County, Texas.

Garland Power & Light, Greenville Electric Utility System and Bryan Texas Utilities (BTU) have signed 25-year agreements to purchase the power produced by the project.

"We're proud to be partnering with these progressive utilities to make renewable energy more widely available to their customers," said Duke Energy Renewables President Greg Wolf. "One of the key advantages of our Los Vientos projects is they generate the majority of their power during the day, when customer demand is greatest."

"We are pleased to have contracted with Duke Energy Renewables for additional wind power for our customers," said Jeff Janke, senior managing director of Garland Power & Light. "This coastal wind will help diversify our power supply portfolio."

With an expected completion date in late 2015, Los Vientos V will produce enough emissions-free electricity to power about 33,000 homes.

"During our assessment of long-term generation resource needs, we have found a good fit with Duke's Los Vientos V wind project," said BTU Board of Directors Chairman Carl Benner. "It will be an important component of our energy portfolio and provide BTU customers with affordable, predictable pricing for the next quarter century."

"We couldn't have done it without the foresight of the leaders, landowners and people of Starr County," said Milton Howard, Duke Energy Renewables executive, renewables development. "Thanks to them, we will be bringing significant construction jobs to the area, boosting economic development and supporting the local school district through dependable tax revenue for years to come."

Vestas will supply 55 2-MW turbines for the project.

Once completed, Los Vientos III and IV -- announced last year -- and Los Vientos V will bring Duke Energy's total wind-generated capacity to more than 2,100 MW, which firmly establishes Duke Energy Renewables in the top 10 for wind production in the country.

Duke Energy's renewable power projects in Texas:

• Sweetwater Windpower Project, Nolan County, 283 MW (of 585 MW total)
• Ocotillo Windpower Project, Howard County, 59 MW
• Notrees Windpower Project, Ector & Winkler Counties, 153 MW
• Blue Wing Solar Power Project, San Antonio,14 MW
• Notrees Battery Storage Project, Winkler County, 36 MW
• Los Vientos I Windpower Project, Willacy County, 200 MW
• Los Vientos II Windpower Project, Willacy County, 202 MW
• Los Vientos III Windpower Project, Starr County, 200 MW under construction
• Los Vientos IV Windpower Project, Starr County, 200 MW under construction
• Los Vientos V Windpower Project, Starr County, 110 MW under construction

About Duke Energy Renewables

Duke Energy Renewables, part of Duke Energy's Commercial Businesses, is a leader in developing innovative wind and solar energy generation projects for customers throughout the United States. The company's growing portfolio of commercial renewable assets includes 15 wind farms and 21 solar farms in operation in 12 states, totaling about 1,800 megawatts in electric-generating capacity. Learn more at www.duke-energy.com/renewables.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at: www.duke-energy.com.

About Garland Power & Light

Garland Power & Light is the municipal electric utility for the city of Garland, Texas, providing service since 1923. With more than 69,000 customers, GP&L is the fourth largest municipal utility in Texas and the 41^st largest in the nation. The utility is committed to providing excellent customer service and competitive rates, and is recognized nationally as a platinum level Reliable Public Power Provider. Visit gpltexas.org for additional information.

About Bryan Texas Utilities

BTU is a municipally owned electric utility serving over 50,000 customers in Bryan, Texas and surrounding areas. BTU has been recognized locally, in Texas and nationally for its high reliability, competitive rates and for forward thinking customer service initiatives. In 2014, BTU was one of only 29 of the nation's 2,000 public power utilities, to earn the "Reliable Public Power Provider – RP3 – Diamond Award" from the American Public Power Association. 

About Greenville Electric Utility System

GEUS is owned by the city of Greenville and supplies Greenville residents with 476,907 megawatt-hours of electrical power annually through:

~ 13,000 meters

~ 32 miles of transmission line

~ 500 miles of overhead distribution line

~ 53 miles of underground distribution line

Peak demand is 121 megawatts. GEUS receives 10 percent of TMPA's Gibbons Creek Coal Plant's total output. GEUS' steam generator plant supplies peaking power.

Contact: Tammie McGee

Office: 980.373.8812 | 24-Hour: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy