Rome, October 11th, 2011 - Enel Green Power North America Inc. (EGP NA) and its
development partner TradeWind Energy started construction activities of the Rocky Ridge
wind project, 51% owned by EGP NA, located in Kiowa County and Washita County,
Oklahoma.
The new wind farm’s installed capacity will total approximately 150 MW and consist of 93
wind turbines of 1.6 MW each. Once fully operational, the plant will generate
approximately 630 million kWh annually, supplying power to approximately 55,000 US
households and avoiding the annual emission of over 470,000 tons of CO2 into the
atmosphere.
The wind farm has a power purchase agreement with the Western Farmers Electric
Cooperative.
The overall investment in this project amounts to, approximately, 250 million US dollars.
This amount, which is fully financed by Enel Green Power, is part of the 2011-2015
investment program already disclosed to the market back in March this year. The plant is
expected to become operational in the summer of 2012.
The Rocky Ridge project spreads across 18,000 acres of land, leased from 75
landowners. The wind farm will generate approximately 150 jobs during construction as
well as approximately 10 operation, maintenance and administration jobs once the plant
will be up and running.
“We are thrilled to witness the start of construction of Enel Green Power’s first project in
Oklahoma. Over time, our cooperation with TradeWind Energy proved to be an
opportunity to develop renewable energy as well as creating value among local
communities through job and income generation.” commented Francesco Starace, Chief
Executive Officer of Enel Green Power.
Rocky Ridge is the fourth wind project that EGP NA and TradeWind Energy have worked
on together through the partnership launched by the two companies back in 2006.
Following the entry in operation of the Caney River and Rocky Ridge projects, the
partnership will have commissioned 600 MW in new wind power projects - the already
operational Smoky Hills 1 and 2 (totaling around 250 MW), the Caney River wind farm,
currently under construction (200 MW) and the Rocky Ridge wind farm (150 MW)
presently beginning construction.
About Enel Green Power
Enel Green Power is the Enel Group company devoted to the development and management of
power generation from renewable sources at the international level, with a presence in Europe and
the Americas. It is among the industry leaders worldwide thanks to its approximately 22 billion
KWh generated from a well balanced energy mix inclusive of water, sun, wind and geothermal
sources. This is enough to meet the energy needs of about 8 million households and avoid the
emission of more than 16 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. The company's installed
capacity exceeds 6,100 MW, produced by more than 620 plants in operation around the world, with
a generation mix that includes wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and biomass. Website:
www.enelgreenpower.com
About Enel Green Power North America
Enel Green Power North America, Inc., part of Enel Green Power, is a leading owner and operator
of renewable energy plants in North America with projects operating and under development in 21
U.S. states and three Canadian provinces. Currently, EGP-NA owns and operates 72 plants with an
installed capacity of around 800 MW powered by renewable hydropower, wind, geothermal and
biomass energy. Website: www.enelgreenpower.com/northamerica
About TradeWind Energy
TradeWind Energy, LLC, is one of the largest independent wind project development companies in
the U.S. Founded in 2003, the Lenexa, Kan., based company partners with local utilities,
cooperatives, environmental groups, municipalities and landowners to develop mutually beneficial
wind energy projects. TradeWind Energy, the 2009 recipient of the Kansas Governor’s Energy
Achievement Award, takes great pride in its ability to deliver low-cost wind energy while
maintaining an uncompromising commitment to long-term project quality. The company is actively
developing 4,500 MW of clean, renewable energy in 11 states throughout the central United States.
TradeWind Energy developed the 250 megawatt Smoky Hills Wind Project located in central Kansas
– the largest wind project in the state. Website: www.tradewindenergy.com
About Western Farmers Electric Cooperative
WFEC is a generation and transmission cooperative headquartered in Anadarko, Okla. Additional
plant facilities are located in Hugo, Okla. and Mooreland, Okla. Member-owners consist of 23
distribution cooperatives, located in Oklahoma and New Mexico, and the Altus Air Force Base,
which, in turn, serve the total electric needs of more than half a million people. WFEC owns and
operates generating plants at three locations and maintains more than 3,600 miles of transmission
line. The cooperative has a combined capacity of over 1,700 megawatts, including hydropower
allocation and, with the addition of the Rocky Ridge Wind Project, purchases all of the electricity
produced from four wind generation projects in Oklahoma. Website: http://www.wfec.com
For US and Canada press inquiries please, contact Kossara Marchinkova, T +1 (978) 513 3409,
E-mail: kossara.marchinkova@enel.com
