Leeward Renewable Energy has reached commercial operations at it 171MW Mountain Breeze wind farm in Weld County, Colorado.
The company has also closed the funding under its tax equity financing for the project.
Leeward procured the wind turbine equipment from GE Renewable Energy, and Citi provided tax equity financing of US$162.9m (€131.62m).
Mountain Breeze is comprised of 62 GE Renewable Energy onshore wind turbines.
Leeward designed and constructed the greenfield project from the ground up and will own and operate the wind farm in the long-term.
Mountain Breeze sells its output to Xcel Energy – Colorado under a long-term PPA.
Leeward also supplies renewable energy to Xcel Energy – Colorado from its nearby Cedar Creek Wind project in Weld County, and to Xcel Energy – Southwest from its Caprock Wind project in Quay County, New Mexico.
Leeward Renewable Energy chief executive Jason Allen said: “Our team has been developing the Mountain Breeze project since 2016.
“We are pleased to have reached commercial operation to provide clean, renewable energy to Leeward’s long-time customer, Xcel Energy, and are grateful to GE and Citi for their continued partnership and investment in clean energy.”
Leeward Renewable Energy vice president of development John Wycherley added: “We are also very appreciative of local landowners with whom we have great, long-standing relationships, as well as Weld County officials and other members of the community.
“The completion of this project would not have been possible without their support and we look forward to maintaining this collaborative relationship for years to come.”
The project created approximately 300 jobs during peak construction and increased its contribution to Weld County in the form of property tax payments.