Enel Green Power North America has started construction of the 250MW 25 Mile Creek wind project in Ellis County, Oklahoma, the company’s 12th wind farm in the state.
With this new construction, Enel Green Power’s Oklahoma wind portfolio now exceeds US$3bn (€2.6bn) in investment.
The company now has over 2.5GW of new wind and solar capacity under construction across the United States, including the 140MW Rockhaven Wind Farm in Oklahoma.
Head of Enel Green Power in the US and Canada Georgios Papadimitriou said: “As we continue celebrating 10 years after Enel Green Power first broke ground in Oklahoma, we’re excited to reach a major milestone of investment in the Sooner State.
“Oklahoma’s leaders know that a responsible, sustainable energy policy strengthens rural communities and attracts top-tier businesses – that’s why the state is one of America’s leaders for renewables.
“We look forward to deepening our relationships in Oklahoma, a state that is home to many of our employees and their families.”
Enel Green Power started construction on its first Oklahoma wind farm, Rocky Ridge, in 2011.
Since then, the company has built or started construction on 12 wind farms representing over 1.7GW of operating capacity, establishing it as Oklahoma’s second-largest wind operator.
Enel’s impact in Oklahoma includes the creation of over 130 long-term jobs and over $2m in support for community initiatives.
25 Mile Creek’s 60 turbines are expected to generate over 1.1 TWh of energy each year, equivalent to the electricity needs of over 100,000 US households and the avoidance of over 676,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
The project is expected to generate over $34m in new local tax revenue for schools and public services, along with over $56m in payments to landowners, over its lifetime.
Construction will involve around 350 construction jobs, and the site will employ around 10 permanent positions.
Operations are expected to begin by the end of 2022.