First Phase Completed on Oklahoma Wind Facility

Weatherford, Oklahoma [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] FPL Energy recently celebrated the completion of the first phase of construction on their commercial-scale Weatherford Wind Energy Center in Custer County, Oklahoma.

“The Weatherford Wind Energy Center is much more than just the most recent wind farm to bring clean, renewable power to Oklahoma,” said O’Sullivan. “This project is a demonstration of how when people bring their skills, knowledge and commitment together, something good can happen. Many people worked on this project and the result is a facility of which we can all be proud.” FPL Energy, and AEP’s subsidiary Public Service Company of Oklahoma, a subsidiary of American Electric Power, joined about 150 guests near Weatherford to dedicate the project. Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment Miles Tolbert, Lt. General Thomas P. Stafford (retired), and Weatherford Mayor Mike Brown were among the dignitaries that joined FPL Energy’s Senior Vice President of Development Mike O’Sullivan and PSO’s President and COO Stuart Solomon and more than 150 local and regional guests to celebrate the commercial operation of the Weatherford Wind Energy Center and the organizations that helped bring the facility to Oklahoma. FPL Energy’s Weatherford Wind Energy Center will be capable of generating enough electricity to power more than 44,000 homes. Construction of the initial 71 wind turbines at the wind farm was completed earlier this year and commercial operation began in late April 2005. The company expects to complete the previously announced 40.5 MW expansion of the facility by the end of 2005. The 147 MW facility is owned and operated by FPL Energy. PSO purchases all of the output from the facility under a long-term contract and provides the power to its customers throughout its service territory.