DTE Energy has exercised its option to purchase one of the two Pheasant Run wind energy projects from a unit of NextEra Energy Resources LLC.
The 75 MW Pheasant Run II wind farm in the Thumb area’s Huron County will be renamed the Brookfield Wind Park as a result of the purchase. Operating since earlier this year, it will shut down for one to two weeks to accomplish the ownership transition and convert the communication infrastructure.
A unit of NextEra Energy Resources will continue to own and operate Pheasant Run I, the wind energy from which will continue to be purchased by DTE Energy. Each 75-MW wind park features 44 1.7 MW GE wind turbines. The 150 megawatts is enough to power about 70,000 homes.
The Brookfield Wind Park purchase is part of DTE Energy’s efforts to expand the company’s renewable energy resources and meet the state’s renewable energy goals. DTE Energy will have almost 1,000 MW of renewable energy assets, equivalent to 10 percent of its power sales by 2015.
DTE Energy plans to own facilities to supply up to half of that 10 percent and contract with third-party producers, such as NextEra Energy Resources, for the rest. Most of that power will come from wind resources.
