Kit Carson Windpower Project operational

Tri-State announced on Nov. 29, 2010 the completion of the Kit Carson Windpower Project, a 51-megawatt wind farm located in east-central Colorado. The wholesale power supplier is purchasing the output of the facility through a 20-year agreement with a subsidiary of Duke Energy Corp.

“The Kit Carson Windpower Project is another component in the continuing diversification of Tri-State’s resource portfolio to meet the power requirements of our 44 member distribution cooperatives,” said Ken Anderson, Tri-State’s executive vice president and general manager.  “This project serves as a good example of our ability to harness one of the abundant renewable energy resources that exist in our member system service territory.”

The Kit Carson Windpower Project, the latest utility-scale renewable project to come online in Colorado, was named for the county in which it is located.  The facility is comprised of 34, 1.5-megawatt General Electric turbines situated on a 6,000-acre site northwest of Burlington, Colo. — within the service territory of Tri-State member co-op K.C. Electric Association.

Duke Energy, which owns the facility and will operate and provide all maintenance services, began construction in June 2010 with a workforce of 150 on site during the peak construction period.  A permanent staff of four technicians will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the wind farm.

“Tri-State shares our commitment to delivering affordable and reliable electricity generated from a diverse mix of resources, including renewables,” said Keith Trent, Duke Energy group executive and Commercial Businesses president.  “We’re proud that renewable energy generated at the Kit Carson Windpower Project will help supply consumers of Tri-State’s member electric cooperatives and public power districts.”

“I congratulate both Tri-State and Duke Energy on the completion of their first wind project in Colorado,” said Colorado Governor Bill Ritter.  “Their investment will provide long-term jobs and economic benefits for eastern Colorado and continue to drive our state’s New Energy Economy forward for years to come.”

No new transmission facilities were required to the Tri-State system as the wind project was directly connected to an existing Tri-State 230-kilovolt line between substations located near the towns of Limon and Burlington.

Updated: November 29, 2010