KINGMAN, Kan., April 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- State and
local leaders and landowners joined executives from NextEra Energy
Resources and Westar Energy to celebrate the commissioning of the
Kingman and Ninnescah Wind Energy
Centers, which has created hundreds of construction jobs as well as
millions of dollars in economic benefits to the region.
"Wind energy is good for Kansas
and it's good for our economy," said Kansas Gov. Sam
Brownback, addressing landowners and guests at the
commissioning ceremony. "When these blades are turning in the wind,
it's just like the combines harvesting wheat from our land – we are
creating value from our natural resources to the benefit of our
people and I'd like to see more projects like these."
"These projects represent a more than $650 million investment in Kansas," said Armando
Pimentel, president and CEO of NextEra Energy Resources, the
world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and the
sun. An affiliate of the company owns and operates the Kingman and Ninnescah projects. "We are very
pleased to bring these wind energy centers online to help serve the
state and boost the local economy."
The Kingman and Ninnescah Wind
Energy Centers feature more than 240 GE wind turbines designed to
pivot to capture the prevailing wind and convert it to clean,
renewable electricity. Together, they have a generating capacity of
400 megawatts, capable of powering more than 100,000 homes. The
energy serves customers of Westar Energy as well as its wholesale
partners Midwest Energy and the cities of McPherson, Chanute, Iola, Fredonia and Sabetha through energy management service
agreements.
"These projects modernize and diversify Kansas' energy supply, and provide low-cost,
clean energy to our customers," said Mark
Ruelle, president and CEO of Westar Energy. "We are also
pleased to make this renewable energy available to several of our
wholesale customers who now have an opportunity to share in this
tremendous investment in our state."
The projects have created a significant economic boost for
Kingman and Pratt Counties, creating approximately 500
jobs during the construction phase in 2016, and approximately 35
full-time jobs once the projects became operational in December.
The projects will provide more than $40
million in guaranteed payments to the county governments
over their projected 30-year operational life, and nearly
$100 million in payments to local
landowners. From labor and materials, to housing, health care and
construction - a wide variety of local businesses have benefitted
from the influx of economic activity.
"Kansas, and Kingman and Pratt Counties in particular, are fortunate to
have some of the best wind in the nation," said Rep. Jack Thimesh of Spivey. "These projects are evidence of what
we can do when we build strong partnerships to develop this
resource, create good jobs and long-term benefits for our
communities."
NextEra Energy Resources
NextEra Energy Resources, LLC (together with its affiliated
entities, "NextEra Energy Resources"), is a clean energy leader and
is one of the largest wholesale generators of electric power in the
U.S., with approximately 19,990 megawatts of generating capacity,
which includes megawatts associated with noncontrolling interests
related to NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP), primarily in 29
states and Canada as of year-end
2016. NextEra Energy Resources, together with its affiliated
entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from
the wind and sun. The business operates clean, emissions-free
nuclear power generation facilities in New Hampshire, Iowa and Wisconsin as part of the NextEra Energy
nuclear fleet, which is one of the largest in the United States. NextEra Energy Resources,
LLC is a subsidiary of Juno Beach,
Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more
information, visit www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.
Westar Energy Inc.
Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR) is Kansas' largest electric utility. For more
than a century, we have provided Kansans the safe, reliable
electricity needed to power their businesses and homes. Every day
our team of professionals takes on projects to generate and deliver
electricity, protect the environment and provide excellent service
to our nearly 700,000 customers. Westar has 7,200 MW of electric
generation capacity fueled by coal, uranium, natural gas, wind, sun
and landfill gas. We are also a leader in electric transmission in
Kansas. Our innovative customer
service programs include mobile-enabled customer care, expanding
use of smart meters and paving the way for electric vehicle
adoption. Our employees live, volunteer and work in the communities
we serve. For more information about Westar Energy, visit us on the
Internet at http://www.WestarEnergy.com. Westar Energy is on
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/yourwestar and Twitter:
www.Twitter.com/WestarEnergy.
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SOURCE NextEra Energy Resources, LLC