BP announced plans this week to invest in an $800 million wind farm in Kansas.
The wind farm will be largest one in Kansas, spanning 66,000 acres and producing 419-megawatts (MW). The project has been named Flat Ridge 2. Construction will begin within the year and be completed by fall 2012. There will be 500 construction jobs available and 30 operation jobs available after completion.
The wind project will reside in four counties: Harper, Barber, Kingman and Sumner. Turbines will be placed on the properties of 200 landowners who BP will pay more than $1 million a year for 20 years.
The Kansas City Star reports that all four counties’ residents and governments welcome the project.
Kansas Governor, Sam Brownback, is reported saying, “I love wind energy… It’s a fabulous industry that fits our state well.”
Three-quarters of the electricity from the project will be sold to Associate Electric Cooperative in Springfield, Montana.
According to BP’s website, the energy company has focused on building U.S. wind farms “because the desired physical climate and public policy favor wind technology.”
BP has also recently partnered with Clipper Windpowere to construct the largest wind farm in the world in South Dakota.
That’s all for now,
Cori
