Enel starts construction of Red Dirt wind project in Logan County

Enel Green Power North America began construction of the Red Dirt wind project, its largest wind farm in Oklahoma. The energy and renewable energy credits from Red Dirt will be sold under two long-term agreements, one with T-Mobile US, Inc. and the other with the Grand River Dam Authority.

On April 14, Enel Green Power North America, Inc. (EGP-NA) began construction of the Red Dirt wind project, its largest wind farm in Oklahoma. Located in Kingfisher and Logan Counties, Red Dirt is EGP-NA’s 9th wind project in the state and will bring the company’s total capacity to nearly 1,500 MW.

The energy and renewable energy credits from Red Dirt, which is expected to enter into service by the end of 2017, will be sold under two long-term agreements, one with T-Mobile US, Inc. for 160 MW and the other with the Grand River Dam Authority for 140 MW of the wind facility.

“We are proud to continue our investment in Oklahoma and its communities and to do so with T-Mobile, a new corporate partner who shares our commitment to sustainability and community,” said Rafael Gonzalez, Head of Enel Green Power North America. “Red Dirt has been under development for several years and promises to be a project that will deliver millions in new revenue to support local services, education, and drive economic stimulus in the region.”

Corporations continue to see the value of supporting renewable energy. T-Mobile is EGP-NA’s second corporate partner for one of its wind projects. Google is an offtaker of EGP-NA’s Cimarron Bend wind project in Kansas.

Construction of the Red Dirt wind project will require an overall investment from Enel of about $420 million and will create around 600 new construction jobs at the peak of construction and an additional 12 long-term full-time jobs.

“The wind energy industry plays a vital role in our state, thanks in part, to the investment by Enel Green Power. Today’s announcement that EGP-NA is continuing its commitment and will expand even more in Oklahoma is welcome news,” said Deby Snodgrass, Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce.

EGP-NA’s long-time strategic development partner, Tradewind Energy developed the Red Dirt wind project. Over the last several months EGP-NA and Tradewind have worked with state and local officials, landowners, suppliers, and the surrounding communities, to successfully bring this project to fruition.

“The 61,000-acre Red Dirt Wind Project will provide 300MW of clean, abundant wind energy to businesses and homes throughout Oklahoma,” said Heath Herje, senior development director for Tradewind Energy.  “Wind projects like Red Dirt give rural Oklahoma counties steady, long-term economic assurance for a sustainable and prosperous existence, now and in the future.”

Since EGP-NA entered the Oklahoma wind market in 2012, the company has experienced a near ten-fold increase in capacity in the state, increasing its wind portfolio from 150 MW to now nearly 1,500 MW. EGP-NA’s other projects in Oklahoma include Rocky Ridge in Kiowa and Washita Counties, Chisholm View I and II in Grant and Garfield Counties, Origin in Murray, Carter, and Garvin Counties, Osage Wind in Osage County, Goodwell in Texas County, Little Elk in Kiowa and Washita Counties, and Drift Sand in Grady County.

EGP-NA is currently present in 23 US states and two Canadian provinces with exceeding 3.2 GW of managed capacity across four technologies including wind, solar, hydropower and geothermal.