The Tennessee Valley Authority is moving closer to its goal of having more than 50 percent of its power generation from non-carbon emitting sources with four new contracts for the purchase of up to 815 megawatts of renewable wind energy.
TVA recently entered into two contracts with Invenergy Wind affiliates to provide a total of up to 350 megawatts from wind projects at the White Oak Energy Center in McLean County, Ill., and the Bishop Hill Energy Center in Henry County, Ill., both beginning in January 2012.
A contract with CPV Renewable Energy Co. will provide up to 165 megawatts of wind energy from the Cimarron project in Gray County, Kan., beginning as early as January 2012. A fourth contract, with Iberdrola Renewables Inc., will deliver up to 300 megawatts from the Streator Cayuga Ridge project in Illinois, starting in mid-2010. Construction is scheduled or under way on all of these projects. Power delivery issubject to environmental requirements and firm transmission paths being secured.
“Wind power is a clean and limitless source of energy that directly enhances TVA’s mission of environmental stewardship,” said TVA Executive Vice President VanWardlaw. “When we look at all the options for renewable sources, it makes sense for TVA to invest in wind energy.”
The contracts are in addition to wind energy contracts with Invenergy Wind and CPV announced in October. This is the first contract between TVA and Iberdrola Renewables.
“TVA’s purchase helps drive continued investment in American energyinfrastructure and security, while creating jobs in heartland communities,” said MartinMugica, executive vice president for Iberdrola Renewables.
The purchases result from a request for proposals TVA issued in December2008, in an effort to add 2,000 megawatts of new renewable or clean energy resources to the generating system. With the new contracts, TVA has purchased up to 1,265 megawatts toward that goal, enough power to serve more than 300,000 average-size homes in the Tennessee Valley.
TVA’s current renewable energy portfolio now includes 4,645 megawatts from hydro, wind, solar and methane sources. In addition, TVA’s nuclear plants contribute 6,900 megawatts of low-or-no-emission electricity to the power grid.
TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self-financing. TVA provides power to large industries and 157 power distributors that serve approximately 9 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also creates economic development opportunities and manages the Tennessee River and itstributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood damage reduction, navigation,water quality and recreation.
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