50 MW Kumeyaay Wind Project Goes Online

For the Campo tribe, the wind farm diversifies its income from the lease of the land beneath the turbines. The Kumeyaay Wind farm annually will produce power sufficient for about 30,000 homes and will save approximately 110,000 tons a year in greenhouse gas emissions, compared with equivalent fossil fuel generation. It will help San Diego Gas & Electric meet its target of supplying at least 20 percent of its customers' electricity from renewable sources by 2010.

"The Kumeyaay project represents significant growth of our already sizeable renewable energy portfolio. Consistent with GE's ecomagination initiative, it builds on our investments earlier this year in seven German wind farms, and continues our productive relationship with Babcock & Brown," said Alex Urquhart, President and CEO of GE Energy Financial Services.

The project is due a partnership between project sponsor, global investment and advisory firm Babcock & Brown and GE Energy Financial Services. Energy Financial Services invested $51 million in the 50-MW Kumeyaay Wind project near San Diego.

Babcock & Brown, which will retain a substantial equity interest and remain the long-term manager, has six wind facilities in the U.S. that will go into service by year's end. The transaction is the second renewable energy investment in San Diego County by GE Energy Financial Services this year.