Vestas has started repowering two wind farms for US renewables developer Longroad Energy in Minnesota.
The Community Wind North and Jeffers Wind projects are located in Lincoln and Pipestone counties and will have a combined output after repowering of 70MW.
Vestas is carrying out the work under a turnkey contract, which includes the hardware for the job.
Financial close has also been reached with a construction loan of $128m.
KeyBank and HSBC were the coordinating lead arrangers and joint book runners.
The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2020, at which point Xcel Energy will purchase the facilities.
Longroad Energy has owned the projects since 2017.
Longroad chief executive Paul Gaynor said: “We are grateful for the support of the project landowners and communities.
“This is one of the first repowering projects in Minnesota, so there was not a lot of precedent to rely on. The regulatory community was constructive and supportive
“Xcel Energy’s support was also critical in getting the projects across the finish line.
“We are pleased to have come to an agreement to sell these assets to Xcel Energy once the repowering is completed.”