Upon completion, 400 MW wind project will be among world's largest
ATLANTA, GEORGIA (July 22, 2003) --- GE Wind Energy will supply the first 25 wind turbines, or 37.5 megawatts (MW), for "Phase I" of the proposed 400-MW Sweetwater Wind Project which, when completed, will be among the world's largest wind developments. Currently being developed by DKR Development LLC (DKR) of Houston, Texas, the project is also being supported by Babcock and Brown of San Francisco, California, through the supply of equity funding, financial advisory services and development support.
Sited approximately 15 miles south of Sweetwater in Nolan County, Texas, "Sweetwater 1" is expected to generate enough clean, renewable energy to supply the annual electricity needs of more than 11,000 average Texas households.
Sweetwater 1 will feature GE's 1.5-MW machines which are among the world's most widely utilized wind turbines in their size class. The power generated by the project will be purchased by TXU Energy, a major energy company serving five million customers in North America and Australia, including 2.7 million competitive electric customers in Texas.
The project's power will be transported from the wind turbines via an underground collection system and delivered to TXU Energy customers across Texas. The Sweetwater Project is being constructed in response to a state government-enacted Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) which calls for 2,000 megawatts of new renewable energy by year 2009. Through the Texas RPS, more than 1,000 megawatts of new wind power, an investment of more than $1 billion, have been installed throughout the state.
"Texas' exemplary leadership in bringing new renewable energy generation to its consumers is encouraging to other states who are adopting or considering similar renewable energy goals," said Steve Zwolinski, president of GE Wind Energy, a unit of GE Power Systems. "GE is pleased to be a part of this industry. Our robust 1.5-MW machine, the largest wind turbine assembled in the U.S., will provide another landmark energy generation project for the state."
Construction efforts for Sweetwater 1 will begin this summer, with completion expected in December 2003.
GE's 1.5-megawatt wind turbines are among the most widely sold wind turbines in the megawatt class. In mid-2002, GE announced that its 1,000
th
About GE Power Systems
General Contact Information
GE Corporate
[email protected]
1-203-373-2039