GE partners E.ON to complete 211MW Grandview Phase I wind farm in US

GE Energy Financial Services, through its subsidiary, is forming an investment partnership with E.ON to complete the 211MW Grandview Phase I wind farm in the Texas Panhandle.

GE Energy Financial Services is providing 50% partnership equity in the project while E.ON's subsidiary E.ON Climate and Renewables North America are providing the remaining stake.

The Grandview I project features 118 GE 1.7-100 wind turbines, which GE will service under a five-year agreement while EC&RNA will manage construction of the wind farm at 26 miles east of Amarillo in Carson County.

The wind farm is scheduled to begin commercial operations in December 2014 and upon completion, EC&RNA will provide operations and maintenance.

EC&R North America CEO Patrick Woodson said, "Working with such strong partners like GE on the front end is a new effort for E. ON and one that will pay dividends as we bring our 19th wind farm in the United States online."

Utilising the lines built to add renewable capacity in Texas, the wind farm will use feed power into the new Competitive Renewable Energy Zones infrastructure in Texas.

GE Energy Financial Services president and CEO David Nason said, "Combining investment and technology for the Grandview wind project builds on our long-term relationship with EC&RNA and supports the growth of this important customer and GE."

According to US Energy Environmental Protection Agency methodology, the Grandview I wind farm would generate enough electricity to power approximately 64,000 homes while avoiding approximately 482,000t of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

Additionally, about 250-300 construction jobs will be created by the project this year and also ten to 12 permanent jobs in Carson County.