BP Alternative Energy has broken ground on phase one of the Flat Ridge Wind Farm in Kansas. Phase one of the project will have the capacity to generate 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity and is expected to be in commercial operation by the end of the year.
Flat Ridge I will use 40 Clipper 2.5-MW wind turbine generators. Once the project is in operation Westar Energy Inc. will own 50 percent of phase one and will purchase 50 MW of the power generated by the project from BP under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA). BP will operate the full 100 MW. The Flat Ridge development is expected to be built in multiple phases.
"The energy produced at Flat Ridge will benefit our customers, Kansas and the region. We're building strong partnerships with counties and developers to better our energy future, and we look forward to being a good neighbor to the folks in Barber County,” said Bill Moore, Westar Energy's president and CEO.
