Orsted’s US onshore wind arm Lincoln Clean Energy will start construction of the 230MW Plum Creek wind farm in Nebraska, following issuance of a ‘final notice to proceed’.
The wind farm, in Wayne County, is expected to be operational in 2020.
The issuance of the notice comes after the final investment decision by Orsted’s board.
Plum Creek expands the company’s geographic footprint in the Southwest Power Pool market, which serves the central US.
The Orsted company has entered into long-term power purchase agreements for the facility’s power with The JM Smucker Company, Vail Resorts and Avery Dennison.
Once operational, Plum Creek will result in over $3m in local community benefits annually in the Wayne County area, including property tax revenues, with some of the largest beneficiaries being the Norfolk and Windside school districts.
Construction work on the project is expected to create approximately 250 temporary jobs and up to 10 permanent jobs in operations and maintenance.
Lincoln Clean Energy now has 670MW of wind facilities under construction across three states, Texas, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
“We’re happy to announce that the Plum Creek facility has reached this important milestone that keeps us on target to achieve commercial operation by 2020,” said Lincoln Clean Energy chief executive Declan Flanagan.
Orsted, which acquired Lincoln Clean Energy in 2018, will be the long term owner of the projects the company develops.
Building on its track record in project development, Lincoln has financed over 800MW of wind projects in the US.