Life just got a little sweeter for Duke Energy Renewables

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy Renewables has acquired a 50-percent stake in Mesquite Creek Wind, a 211-megawatt (MW) wind power project near Lamesa, Texas, through its joint venture partnership with Sumitomo Corp. of Americas.

The acquisition increases Duke Energy Renewables' Texas wind capacity to more than 1,200 MW.

Global food manufacturer Mars Inc., best known for its candy products, is purchasing the power and associated renewable energy credits from the wind farm for a 20-year period. The facility began operations in April of this year.

"Mars is an industry leader in using sustainable business practices to meet its customers' needs," said Greg Wolf, president of Duke Energy's Commercial Portfolio. "We're proud to partner with Sumitomo to provide emissions-free wind energy to Mars and help them achieve their goal of carbon neutral operations by 2040."

Mesquite Creek Wind consists of 118 1.7 MW GE wind turbines, enough to provide electricity for Mars' entire U.S. operations comprised of 70 sites, including 37 factories. The energy produced is enough to make 13 billion SNICKERS® bars or 188 billion sticks of ORBIT® gum.

"Mesquite Creek Wind has been a landmark project for our company as the sixth renewable energy investment in the U.S.," said Teruyuki Miyazaki, SVP and GM of Environment and Infrastructure Group, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas. "Having been involved in the financing and management of this project through its development, build-out and completion, we are very pleased to have Duke Energy Renewables share in ownership of the project and look forward to strengthening our partnership."   

The wind farm is located in Dawson and Borden counties, about eight miles from Lamesa.

Duke Energy Renewables' projects under operation 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
• Mesquite Creek Wind Project, Borden & Dawson counties, 106 MW (of 211 MW total)

Duke Energy and Sumitomo share ownership of the 131-MW Cimarron II and 168-MW Ironwood Wind Power Projects in Kansas, which began operating in 2012.

News editors

Photographs available on request.

Link to time lapse video of Mesquite Creek construction

Link to Mars video

About Duke Energy Renewables

Duke Energy Renewables, part of Duke Energy's Commercial Portfolio, 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 17 wind farms and 27 solar farms in operation in 12 states, totaling more than 2 gigawatts 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 Sumitomo Corporation of Americas and Sumitomo Corporation

Established in 1952, and headquartered in New York City, Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA) has 8 offices in major U.S. cities. SCOA is the largest subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation, one of the world's leading traders of goods and services, with consolidated assets of $75 billion. As an integrated business enterprise, the firm has emerged as a major organizer of multinational projects, an expediter of ideas, an important international investor and financier, and a powerful force for distribution of products and global communications through a network of offices worldwide.

Sumitomo continues to grow its renewable energy business and has extensive experience developing, operating and owning power generating facilities such as wind, geothermal, biomass and solar businesses around the world. Investments include Mesquite Creek, a 211-MW wind project in western Texas; 845-MW Shepherds Flat Wind Farm in Oregon ; two Kansas wind farms, the 131-MW Cimarron II and 168-MW Ironwood projects; Stanton wind project, a 120-MW wind power facility in Texas; and Desert Sunlight, a 550-MW solar power project in California. For more information, visit www.sumitomocorp.com or www.sumitomocorp.co.jp.

Duke Energy media contact: Tammie McGee 
980.373.8812 | 800.559.3853

Sumitomo Corporation of Americas media contact: Jewelle Yamada 
212-207-0574

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SOURCE Duke Energy

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