Projects to supply clean, reliable energy to Arizona Public Service Company for 20 years
DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC (“Leeward”) today announced that it has successfully completed construction of its two Aragonne projects, which included repowering of its existing Aragonne Wind project (Aragonne Repower) and the construction of the new Aragonne Mesa Wind project (Aragonne Mesa).
Located in Guadalupe County, New Mexico the projects will provide 200 megawatts (“MW”) of wind power generation over a 20-year period to Arizona Public Service Company (“APS”) under a previously announced agreement, with the capacity to generate up to 235 MW of renewable energy. This agreement builds on Leeward’s long-term operating success with APS and further supports APS’s clean energy goals.
“Adding more renewable energy to our resource mix is integral to APS’s Clean Energy Commitment. We are striving to serve customers with 100% clean and carbon-free power by 2050 and partnerships like this to strengthen our already diverse portfolio are key to achieving that goal and securing a brighter future for Arizona,” said Justin Joiner, APS Vice President of Resource Management.
Collectively, the new projects are comprised of 86 advanced GE wind turbines capable of generating more than three times the amount of power produced by the legacy Aragonne Wind project while using 60 percent less land. Additionally, as part of Leeward’s commitment to environmental stewardship and to further enhance sustainability, 100 percent of the blades from the decommissioned Aragonne Wind turbines were recycled or reused, as were a majority of the other materials removed from service. Construction financing and tax equity commitments secured for the projects were provided by Wells Fargo and Santander.
Andrew Flanagan, Chief Development Officer at Leeward commented, “This announcement is an important milestone for Leeward as it showcases our ability to deliver high value renewable energy facilities through innovation, long-term trusted relationships and by positively impacting the communities we serve. We are pleased to be extending our long-standing partnership with APS and the trusted relationships we have built with Guadalupe County community for another 20 years.”
About Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC
Leeward Renewable Energy is a leading renewable energy company that owns and operates a portfolio of 22 renewable energy facilities across nine states totaling approximately 2,000 megawatts of generating capacity. Leeward is actively developing and contracting new wind, solar, and energy storage projects in energy markets across the U.S., with 1.9 gigawatts contracted and 17 gigawatts under development spanning over 100 projects. Leeward is a portfolio company of OMERS Infrastructure, an investment arm of OMERS, one of Canada’s largest defined benefit pension plans with C$114 billion in net assets (as at June 30, 2021). For more information, visit www.leewardenergy.com.
Contacts
Kelly Kimberly
Sard Verbinnen & Co.
713.822.7538
kkimberly@sardverb.com