New Wind Power for Scottish Utility

ScottishPower unveiled plans on both sides of the Atlantic to push their wind-generated capacity toward a goal of over 1000 MW by the year 2010.

Argyll, Scotland – December 6, 2002 [SolarAccess.com] ScottishPower’s U.S. energy business, PacifiCorp Power Marketing, Inc. (PPM), will expand its 1,000 MW portfolio of wind and gas generation with another 50 MW of new wind power in the midwestern US through construction of the US$55 million, 50 MW Moraine Wind Power Project in southwest Minnesota, which is expected to enter commercial operation in fall 2003. As part of its strategy, PPM will supply wind-generated electricity to regional utility Northern States Power (NSP) through a long-term power purchase agreement approved by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in July 2002. This is the first time PPM will own and operate a windfarm. PPM has ordered 34, 1.5 MW GE wind turbines for the project. The Moraine Wind Power Project offers a strong wind resource, manageable size, expandability and a long-term contract with NSP, said PPM. The midwest has been targeted by PPM due to favorable public policy and weather conditions for new wind energy development. PPM also recently entered into an agreement to purchase from FPL Energy the entire output of the proposed High Winds windfarm in northern California. The windfarm is expected to be 150 MW when completed. PPM is actively marketing the energy from High Winds to wholesale customers in California, a state that this fall adopted an aggressive renewable portfolio standard. Under this standard, utilities must supply 20 percent of their energy portfolio from renewable sources by 2017. High Winds is expected to begin operation in summer 2003. “These two wind projects are quality assets in excellent locations,” said PPM CEO Terry Hudgens. “They are consistent with our strategy of securing significant new wind power in the next five to seven years to meet the needs of our growing wholesale customer base in the West and now in the midwest.” On the other side of the world, ScottishPower submited plans to Argyll and Bute Council for a £20-30 million (US$21-47 million) windfarm at Inverliever near Loch Awe in Argyll. Providing green energy to over 17,500 homes, the windfarm will comprise 22 turbines, a reduction from the originally proposed 48. If approved the 30MW windfarm could be operational in 2004 and would be ScottishPower’s third windfarm in Argyll. During the one-year construction period, around 70 construction jobs would be created and local companies will be encouraged to tender for £2-3 million (US$2-4 million) of construction contracts available. The application is one of a number of recent submissions by ScottishPower, including Whitelee, potentially the biggest windfarm in Europe, on Eaglesham Moor, 10 miles from Glasgow, which could also come on stream in 2003.