US company Clearway Energy Group has closed financing and started construction of the 419MW Mesquite Star wind farm in Texas.
Mizuho, KeyBank, MUFG and Santander and providing a loan to finance construction, while BHE Renewables is providing tax equity to invest in the project on completion.
Mesquite Star will comprise 118 Siemens Gamesa turbines and is being built by Blattner Energy under an EPC agreement.
The project is expected to start commercial operations in early 2020.
Clearway Energy Group chief executive Craig Cornelius said: “A project of this size takes an amazing group of partners at the local level, offtakers committed to purchasing renewable energy, and the financial community.
“We are proud to play a central role in this achievement and thankful for the support of our execution partners, Blattner Energy and Siemens Gamesa, who helped ensure Mesquite Star will deliver affordable clean renewable energy.”
Mesquite Star was developed through a partnership between Clearway and Hill Country Wind Power, the project’s original developer.
Meanwhile, Clearway has submitted plans with local regulators for the 170MW Black Rock wind farm in West Virginia.
State governor Jim Justice said: “This investment is truly great news for Mineral and Grant Counties, and all of West Virginia.
“My administration is committed to finding every possible way to enhance energy production in West Virginia, and the Black Rock wind farm is the perfect example of a project that will be a win-win in many ways.
“Not only will the project harness West Virginia’s inexhaustible wind for clean energy production, it will bring good-paying jobs during construction and then, once it’s built, this wind farm will continue to stimulate our economy for years to come.”
Cornelius said: “We are grateful for the support of Governor Justice and all of the local leaders who recognise our recent submittal of Black Rock’s siting certificate application with the West Virginia Public Service Commission.
“Given the success of Clearway’s existing Pinnacle wind farm next door and the relationships we’ve been able to build with surrounding communities, we’re excited to expand our footprint and bring even more local jobs and economic opportunity to the Mountain state.”
Black Rock is expected to create 290 jobs during construction, representing approximately $14m in labour income and $44m in regional economic output, the governor’s office said.
Additional local jobs will be created to staff the plant, which will be supplemented with contractor services provided by area businesses, it added.