DUKE ENERGY BUILDS WYOMING WIND

Duke Energy plans for ninth wind farm
September 1, 2009 (Dayton Business Journal)

"Duke Energy Corp. plans to build its ninth wind-power project, a 200-megawatt wind farm in Wyoming.

"…Top of the World Wind Power [is expected to go into commercial production in late 2010 and]…will be constructed on 17,000 acres in Converse County, Wyo. It will produce energy for as many as 60,000 homes…Duke provides electricity to customers in Warren and Butler counties."

Duke was not among the biggest wind-building utilities last year but the way it is going it could make the list this year. (click to enlarge)

"…Duke has grown quickly in the wind business during the past year or so. The company had no wind capacity in 2006. By the end of this year, it expects to have 733 megawatts of wind capacity. That would be enough to make it the 10th-largest wind generator in the country…

"[Duke Energy Generation Services, DEGS] does not build a project unless it has a long-term customer for the power it will generate. Rocky Mountain Power of Wyoming has signed a 20-year contract for the power from Top of the World."

In choosing to work in Wyoming, Duke has picked wind-rich territory. (click to enlarge)

"That utility also has contracted to buy all the power produced by Duke’s nearby 99-megawatt Campbell Hill Windpower Project. Campbell Hill is scheduled to start generating electricity by the end of the year.

"DEGS is one of Duke’s unregulated businesses, unconnected to its regulated utilities such as Duke Energy Carolinas. The utilities own no wind facilities, although Duke’s Midwest franchise has contracted to buy some of its energy from wind producers…"