Westar Energy to buy 200 MW from NextEra’s Kingman wind project

January 7, 2016 Barry Cassell Generation

Westar Energy (NYSE: WR) has reached an agreement with an affiliate of NextEra Energy Resources to purchase another 200 MW of Kansas wind energy.

“Our customers will benefit from this low cost wind energy,” said Mark Ruelle, Westar Energy president and chief executive officer, in a Dec. 31 statement. “Wind energy development brings jobs and investment to our rural communities.”

Westar Energy will purchase energy generated at the Kingman Wind Energy Center in Kingman County, which will be in service by early 2017. As part of the transaction, Westar will have the option to purchase one-half of the facility before substantial completion.  The wind farm brings over $400 million in investment and payments to the local area.

For nearly a decade, Westar has been investing in and purchasing Kansas wind energy. With this addition, its wind generation will surpass 1,700 MW.

NextEra Energy Resources is a unit of Florida-based NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE).

Westar Energy is Kansas’ largest electric utility. Westar has 7,200 MW of electric generation capacity fueled by coal, uranium, natural gas, wind and landfill gas.

About Barry Cassell 20414 Articles
Barry Cassell is Chief Analyst for GenerationHub covering coal and emission controls issues, projects and policy. He has covered the coal and power generation industry for more than 24 years, beginning in November 2011 at GenerationHub and prior to that as editor of SNL Energy’s Coal Report. He was formerly with Coal Outlook for 15 years as the publication’s editor and contributing writer, and prior to that he was editor of Coal & Synfuels Technology and associate editor of The Energy Report. He has a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University.
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