News & Analysis

EDF Renewable Energy acquires Texas wind farm

The French energy company’s US subsidiary will acquire the first phase of the Hereford Wind Project.

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The US subsidiary of France’s EDF Energies Nouvelles has entered into a definitive agreement with Lincoln Renewable Energy to acquire the first phase of the Hereford Wind Project in Texas, expanding its presence in the state, EDF Renewable Energy (EDF RE) said in a statement.

The San Diego-based company will also have the option to acquire the second phase of the project which has the potential to reach up to 500 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity in total. Construction of the first, 200-megawatt phase of the project is due to begin later this year in order to qualify for the production tax credit, according to the statement.

“We applaud the Public Utility Commission of Texas for their vision in implementing the CREZ [Competitive Renewable Energy Zone] transmission project, which will provide access-to-market for low-cost, clean renewable energy, and in turn, spur economic development at the local level,” said EDF Renewable Energy executive vice president Ryan Pfaff, referring to the transmission lines that connect wind generating capacity to high electricity demand areas in the state.

“The Production Tax Credit extension in early 2013, along with the CREZ transmission build-out, creates a compelling opportunity for EDF Renewable Energy to strengthen our presence in the wind-rich Texas Panhandle,” he said.

The company already has 311 megawatts of wind capacity in service with Spinning Spur I (161 MW) and Bobcat Bluff (150 MW), which became operational in December 2012. Spinning Spur II is under construction and slated to become operational by mid-summer 2014 adding another 161 megawatts of capacity. The Hereford project, with potential capacity of 500MW, would bring EDF RE’s installed wind capacity in Texas to 972 MW.

Lincoln Renewable Energy develops utility-scale solar and wind power projects from greenfield concept to commercial operation. Over the past 10 years, it has developed projects that generate more than 3,000 megawatts of renewable energy in North America and Europe.