Duke Energy Renewables has started construction of the 200MW Mesteno wind project in Texas, US.
Wanzek Construction is the contractor. The build phase is expected to be completed by the year-end.
The output of Mesteno, in Starr County, will be sold into the ERCOT-operated wholesale power market. Duke Energy Renewables will enter into a long-term hedge agreement covering the majority of the expected production.
Vestas is supplying 56 V136-3.6 tall tower turbines for the site, which will reach over 590 feet.
Mesteno will be the developer’s fourth wind generation facility in Starr County and has received local support from the Rio Grande City Consolidated Independent School district, Starr County, Starr County Hospital and South Texas College, according to Duke.
This project increases Duke Energy Renewables’ US wind capacity to more than 2500MW.
During peak construction, the wind project will create approximately 200 jobs and will deliver more than $16 million in tax revenue over the first 10 years of its operation.
Vestas sales and service, US and Canada, president Chris Brown said: “The combination of taller towers and V136-3.6 MW technology is perfectly designed to extract the abundant resource at the site, and deliver low-cost, reliable energy to the community and customer.”