After closing out a year with significant investments in low-emission generation, CPS Energy is kicking off 2013 with 200MW of new wind power. Los Vientos I, a coastal windfarm, is now online and supplying power to Greater San Antonio and the state’s electric grid.
CPS Energy executed a 25-year power purchase agreement with Duke Energy for the power from Los Vientos I, raising its total wind-energy capacity to 1,059MW. The partnership will bring significant educational investments to the San Antonio area while helping CPS Energy shield its customers from environmental regulatory risks by investing in clean energy and innovative technologies, essential components of CPS Energy’s New Energy Economy.
“Coastal wind has the potential to provide us with electric power during summer afternoon hours when energy demand is highest,” said Cris Eugster, executive vice president and chief strategy and technology officer. “It’s a clean generation source for our customers at a locked-in, competitive price, and complements our investments last year in natural gas and solar.”
In addition to Los Vientos, CPS Energy purchases the power generated at Duke Energy Renewables’ Blue Wing Solar Power Project in San Antonio.
Los Vientos is located on 30,000 acres of land in Willacy County, 120 miles south of Corpus Christi and 20 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico. With 87 Siemens wind turbines, rated at 2.3MW each, the facility will generate enough electricity for nearly 40,000 area homes. Most turbines are rated at 1MW.
Wind energy has proven to be beneficial locally and statewide. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) cited at least four new wind power records in 2012.
For more information, visit www.cpsenergy.com.
