E.ON and Duke Energy Begin Construction on their Windfarms in Texas

E.ON and Duke Energy have both announced their plans to develop 200+ MW windfarms in Texas. E.ON’s 220 MW Cranell Windfarm and Duke’s Mesteño wind farm are both expected to come into operation before the end of the year.

Germany-based electric utility company, E.On has announced that the Cranell Windfarm, a 220 megawatt (MW) project, located in Refugio County, Texas, is under construction and it expects to commission the project before the end of 2019.

“We’re excited to announce another one of the projects in our Texas coastal pipeline is under construction and will be brought online this year,” said Silvia Ortin, COO North America. “We look forward to the creation of local, high-paying jobs during our operation phase and the chance to employ 200 to 300 people during the construction phase of the project.”

The project, located in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) south market, is powered by 100 Vestas V120 turbines and will generate enough electricity to power more than 66,000 homes. With the addition of Cranell, E.ON will have a total generation capacity of more than 3,000 MW of wind power online in the state of Texas.

“Refugio County welcomes E.ON and congratulates them on the commencement of construction and pending operation of the Cranell Windfarm,” said Refugio County Judge Robert Blaschke. “We look forward to a long-term relationship establishing sustainable jobs and strong-minded community partnerships.”

E.ON recently announced the start of construction on another South Texas onshore windfarm, Peyton Creek, a 151 MW project in Matagorda County, which is also expected to come online by the end of 2019.

Duke Energy Renewables, a commercial business unit of Duke Energy, has also announced that it will build, own and operate a 200-megawatt (MW) wind project – Mesteño – in Starr County, Texas. The company’s fourth wind generation facility in the County. The project’s output will be sold into the ERCOT market and Duke Energy Renewables will enter into a long-term hedge agreement covering the majority of the expected wind energy production.

”We’re excited to continue to invest to build and expand renewable energy resources in Texas,” said Rob Caldwell, president of Duke Energy Renewables. “This project will deliver clean energy for the state and significant economic benefits to the area.”

The 200-MW Mesteño wind facility will produce enough energy to power about 60,000 average homes.