Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas To Purchase Power From Kansas Wind Farm

The Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC) has reached a long-term purchase power agreement for 51 megawatts of wind energy from the Flat Ridge 2 South Wind Farm in Kansas.

AECC’s 51 MW of capacity is under construction.

The Flat Ridge 2 South Wind Farm is part of a larger Flat Ridge 2 facility, currently sized at approximately 419 MW, with 368 MW purchased by other utilities. The farm, funded by a partnership between BP and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power, is located on a 66,000-acre site approximately 40 miles southwest of Wichita, Kan. The wind farm represents a combined investment of more than $800 million and is expected to be in full commercial operation by year-end 2012.

“The addition of wind power to AECC’s generation portfolio will help to stabilize energy prices for cooperative member-owners, while providing another diverse source of clean renewable energy,” said Duane Highley, president and CEO of AECC.

“The wind facility along with AECC’s three existing run-of-the-river hydroelectric generating stations continues the cooperative’s long-standing commitment to a diverse, reliable generation portfolio that provides energy at the lowest possible cost. As members and owners of their electric cooperative, our members gain access to this renewable energy every month, with no additional charge on their bill. That is the cooperative difference,” he added.

AECC’s agreement was made possible through the National Renewables Cooperative Organization (NRCO), which enables cooperatives nationwide to pool the ownership and benefits of renewable resources.

In addition to the wind agreement, AECC owns 12 generation facilities, including coal-based, natural gas-based and hydroelectric-based power plants with more than 3,000 megawatts of capacity.