Enel, through its U.S. renewable company Enel Green Power North America, Inc., has started operations of the 320 MW Rattlesnake Creek wind farm, its first wind facility in the state of Nebraska, and the Diamond Vista wind farm of about 300 MW in Kansas. Combined, the two new wind farms will generate about 2,600 GWh annually. With these two wind farms, the total renewable capacity that Enel Green Power has connected to grids around the world this year amounts to approximately 2.6 GW, of which more than 830 MW is in North America.
“With the completion of Rattlesnake Creek and Diamond Vista, we have now added more than 800 MW of new wind capacity in 2018 in the U.S., strengthening our growth in the country and confirming our position as partner of choice for commercial and industrial customers,” said Antonio Cammisecra, head of Enel Green Power. “These projects further demonstrate our ability to develop customized solutions that best meet the renewable energy needs of our customers.”
The Rattlesnake Creek wind farm in Dixon County, Nebraska, is fully contracted with long-term power purchase agreements, under which Adobe will purchase the energy from a 10 MW portion through 2028, and Facebook will gradually buy the wind farm’s full output by 2029. The agreement enables Facebook to power its data center in Papillion, Nebraska, with 100 percent renewable energy. The investment in the construction of Rattlesnake Creek, which is expected to generate about 1,300 GWh annually, amounts to approximately $430 million.
The Diamond Vista wind farm in Marion and Dickinson counties, Kansas, is supported by three separate long-term power purchase agreements. The electricity and renewable energy credits from a 100 MW portion of the wind farm will be sold to global manufacturing company Kohler Co. to supply 100 percent of the annual electricity needed to power the company’s U.S. and Canadian operations, including its 85 manufacturing facilities, offices, and warehouses, while reducing Kohler’s global greenhouse gas emissions by more than 25 percent. Additionally, the output and renewable energy credits from another 100 MW portion of the facility will be sold to City Utilities of Springfield, and those from an 84 MW portion to Tri-County Electric Cooperative of Oklahoma. The investment in the construction of Diamond Vista, which is also expected to generate about 1,300 GWh annually, amounts to about $400 million.
In addition, EGPNA signed tax equity agreements with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and J.P. Morgan for the Rattlesnake Creek and Diamond Vista wind farms. The two investment banks will purchase 100 percent of the “Class B” equity interests of the 320 MW Rattlesnake Creek wind project in Nebraska for about $334 million. Under a separate agreement, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and J.P. Morgan will also purchase 100 percent of the “Class B” equity interests of the 300 MW Diamond Vista wind project in Kansas for about $317 million. Enel retains 100 percent ownership of the “Class A” interests, as well as control over the management and operation of both wind farms.
Over the past year, Enel signed about 570 MW of commercial and industrial (C&I) PPAs in the U.S. To date, Enel has signed, directly or indirectly, more than 1.2 GW of power supply contracts in the U.S. with C&I customers. Through these agreements, Enel is able to create tailor-made solutions for its corporate customers, with the aim to provide them with long-term access to an affordable, sustainable and reliable source of power.
EGPNA, part of Enel Green Power, is a leading owner and operator of renewable energy plants in North America with projects operating and under development in 24 states and two Canadian provinces. EGPNA operates about 100 plants with a managed capacity of about 5 GW powered by renewable hydropower, wind, geothermal, and solar energy. In 2017, the company was the fastest-growing renewable energy company in the U.S., bringing approximately 1.2 GW of capacity online. The company is the largest wind operator in Kansas and Oklahoma.
Enel Green Power is the Enel Group’s business line dedicated to the development and operation of renewables across the world, with a presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Enel Green Power is a global leader in the green energy sector with a managed capacity of about 43 GW across a generation mix that includes wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower, and is at the forefront of integrating innovative technologies into renewable power plants.
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