Westar Energy Inc. will be taking proposals in an effort to collect 500 megawatts of renewable energy.
The company says it presently has 295 megawatts of wind resources and that an additional 200 megawatts would bring it to a 10 percent renewable level.
Westar is seeking proposals that would give it ownership of any facilities after they were designed and constructed. Bidders can also provide proposals containing an agreement to sell the electricity they generate to Westar.
Proposals will be due March 30 and more information is available at the company’s Web site.
In 2007, Westar solicited similar bids for renewable-energy projects. Those requests resulted in the construction of the Central Plains Wind Farm in Wichita County and the Flat Ridge Wind Farm in Barber County. Both projects are currently generating power and are expected to be fully operational by March.
Westar also purchased half of the power produced at the Meridian Way Wind Farm in Cloud County, which came online in December.
Together, the wind farms produce nearly 300 megawatts of renewable energy, which the company hopes can serve as model for further supplementing its energy resources.
“Wind energy is already a valuable component of our generation portfolio,” said Greg Greenwood, Westar’s vice president of generation construction, in a written statement. “It will take a combination of several types of resources — renewable, peaking and baseload — to meet the future needs of our customers.”
