Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Rochester based Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency is acquiring power generated by a planned wind energy farm in western Minnesota.

SMMPA and EDF Renewable Energy today announced the deal, which involves 100 megawatts of wind energy from the Stoneray Wind Project in Pipestone and Murray Counties. Construction work is expected to give underway early next year and the wind farm is projected to be operational by December 2018. Power from the turbines is scheduled to be delivered to SMMPA starting in 2020.

The Stoneray Project will include up to 50 wind turbine generators capable, when operating at full capacity, of supplying enough electricity to power 47,000 average Minnesota homes.

“Stoneray Wind is a big addition to SMMPA’s diverse renewable energy portfolio,” said Dave Geschwind, SMMPA’s Executive Director and CEO. “Building on the success of the 100.5 MW Wapsipinicon Wind project with EDF RE, we’re glad to be working further with EDF RE to provide more Minnesota wind energy to our Members and economic benefits to southern Minnesota through this important project.”

The Stoneray development is EDF RE’s 12th wind project in Minnesota, where the company’s total generating capacity is in excess of 1.2 gigawatts. Throughout North America, the company’s wind, solar, biomass and the biogas projects are capable of generating nine gigawatts of electricity.

 

 

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