CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy
Renewables, a commercial business unit of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK),
announced that its 200-megawatt (MW) Mesteño Windpower project in
Starr County, Texas began
commercial operation on Dec. 31,
2019. It is Duke Energy's fourth wind generation facility in
Starr County and its eleventh in
Texas.
The project's output will be sold into the ERCOT market and Duke
Energy Renewables has entered into a long-term hedge agreement
covering the majority of the expected wind energy production.
Mesteño contains turbines 590.5 feet tall – some of the tallest
wind turbines in the United
States. The tall tower turbines harness stronger winds,
which result in an increase in wind energy production.
"We're excited to bring another wind project online in
Texas and plan to continue
investing in renewable energy in the state," said Rob Caldwell, president of Duke Energy
Renewables. "This project will deliver clean energy and significant
economic benefits."
During peak construction, the wind project created approximately
200 jobs. It will also deliver more than $16
million in tax revenue over the first 10 years of its
operation.
Vestas supplied 56 3.6-MW turbines for the site.
"We're pleased to expand our tall tower technology and V136-3.6
MW platform," said Chris Brown,
president of Vestas' sales and service division in the United States and Canada. "The combination of taller towers and
V136-3.6 MW technology is perfectly designed to extract the
abundant resource at the site, and deliver low-cost, reliable
energy to the community and customer."
The 200-MW Mesteño wind facility will produce enough energy to
power about 60,000 average homes.
Amshore US Wind provided development support for the project,
and Wanzek Construction is the contractor.
Duke Energy is one of the nation's top renewable energy
providers – on track to own or purchase 8,000 megawatts of wind,
solar and biomass energy by the end of 2020.
Duke Energy Renewables
Duke Energy Renewables, a nonregulated unit of Duke Energy,
operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., with
a total electric capacity of 3,000 megawatts. Duke Energy is one of
the nation's top renewable energy providers – on track to own or
purchase 8,000 megawatts of wind, solar and biomass energy by 2020.
The power is sold to electric utilities, electric cooperatives,
municipalities, and commercial and industrial customers. The unit
also operates energy storage and microgrid projects. Visit Duke
Energy Renewables for more information.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in
Charlotte, N.C., is one of the
largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000
people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts
through its regulated utilities, in addition to Duke Energy
Renewables' capacity.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2019 "World's Most Admired
Companies" list, and Forbes' 2019 "America's Best Employers" list.
More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.
The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact
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Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking
Statements
This document includes forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking
statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions. These
forward-looking statements are identified by terms and phrases such
as "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "estimate," "expect,"
"continue," "should," "could," "may," "plan," "project," "predict,"
"will," "potential," "forecast," "target," "outlook," "guidance,"
and similar expressions. Various factors may cause actual results
to be materially different than the suggested outcomes within
forward-looking statements; accordingly, there is no assurance that
such results will be realized. These risks and uncertainties
are identified and discussed in Duke Energy's Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2018, and
subsequent quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") and available at the SEC's website at
www.sec.gov. In light of these risks, uncertainties and
assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements
might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a
different time than Duke Energy has described. Duke Energy
expressly disclaims an obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Contact: Jennifer Garber
Office: 980-373-0668 | 24-Hour: 800-559-3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy