Mississippi’s First Wind Farm Begins Operations
the wind industry celebrated a major milestone as the first wind farm in the state of Mississippi officially began operations. Owned by Virginia-based AES, Delta Wind is a 184.5 MW project located in Tunica County, Mississippi. Energy generated from the project – enough to power more than 80,000 homes – is being purchased by online retailer Amazon, and will go towards meeting that organization’s goal to power its operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025. The project is located on privately-held agricultural land that will continue to be used to farm rice, corn, soybeans, and wheat.
Originated by Steelhead Americas and acquired AES prior to construction, the project showcases some of the tallest wind turbines in the country – Vestas’ V150 4.5 MW design. “With robust community support, industry-leading turbine technology from Vestas, and an experienced operator in AES, Delta Wind is a testament to innovation, collaboration, and partnership,” said Katharine Kollins, President of the Southeastern Wind Coalition.
“We are proud to see this project in Tunica County stand as an example of how wind energy projects can uplift rural communities by bringing in new revenue and providing excellent job opportunities for local residents,” said Charles Finkley Jr., President/CEO of the Tunica County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development.
SEWC expects to see additional wind energy projects in Mississippi and neighboring states. “The region around the Mississippi Delta has considerable potential for wind development,” said Kollins. “We’re observing an unprecedented level of interest in land-based wind development in this region, particularly in the MISO-South footprint. Our expectation is that Delta Wind is the first of many utility-scale projects developed in coming years.”
Southeastern Wind Coalition | http://www.sewind.org
.jpg?r=8293)