Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPS), a subsidiary of Integrys Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:TEG), and enXco, an EDF Energies Nouvelles Company (PARIS:EEN) based in California, closed on the Acquisition and Sale Agreement (ASA) for the Crane Creek Wind Farm, a 99-megawatt (MW) wind facility to be constructed near Riceville in Howard County, Iowa.
enXco will build the wind farm and turn it over to WPS in a turnkey transaction.
Closure of the ASA removes the final hurdle to construction. In April 2008, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) approved the purchase by a 3-0 vote.
The two companies earlier reached an agreement in which WPS will contract with enXco Service Corporation to operate and provide maintenance for the 66 turbines, including 24/7 remote monitoring from their Operations Control Center located in Chandler, Minnesota.
“enXco has met the requirements paving the way for the real estate transaction to close, and we’re pleased that we’re able to enter the construction phase of the project early in 2009,” said Conrad Weis, project manager for WPS.
The wind farm is expected to be operational in late December 2009, helping WPS reach its state-mandated Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) target of generating 10% of its retail electrical sales with renewable power by 2015.
"Closing the ASA is an important milestone in the development of the Crane Creek project,” said Steve Peluso, vice president development for enXco’s Midwest Region. “We look forward to starting the construction phase of the project to bring this renewable resource online for WPS."
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