US Government Signs Onto Biggest Wind Farm

The US government has signed a contract for its biggest wind farm yet,  for the National Nuclear Security Administration in Texas.

The Pantex Wind Farm will power the only facility in the US that maintain’s our country’s nuclear weapons stockpile.

The $55 million wind farm will consist of five, 2.3 megawatt Siemens turbines sited on 1,500 acres northeast of Amarillo.

It will supply about 60% of the facility’s electricity and is expected to save taxpayers $2.9 million in power bills every year.

Construction of the wind farm won’t cost taxpayers a dime because it’s being financed by an unnamed backer and will be built by Siemens under a 20-year energy performance contract.

Siemens will receive payments based on the guaranteed energy savings generated by the farm. 

Construction begins in December and it should be online by March 2014.

In 2011, President Obama authorized up to $2 billion in energy efficiency improvements for federal facilities through performance contracts like the one signed in Texas. A House caucus formed in December to encourage more extensive use of those funds.