Duke Energy to Build Ninth U.S. Wind Farm

August 31, 2009 – Vol.14 No.24

Duke Energy to Build Ninth U.S. Wind Farm.

The Charlotte, North Carolina-based electric power company has announced it will build and operate a 200-megawatt wind energy project near Casper, Wyoming. The Top of the World Windpower Project will be the company's ninth U.S. wind farm and its fourth in Wyoming. With Top of the World, Duke Energy will own and operate approximately 370 MW of wind energy in Wyoming by the end of 2010.

The Top of the World project will be constructed on approximately 17,000 acres of private and public land it holds under long-term lease in Converse County. The project - expected to reach commercial operation by the end of 2010 - will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 50,000 to 60,000 homes on an annual basis.

PacifiCorp, which operates as Rocky Mountain Power in Wyoming, will purchase all of the electricity generated by the Top of the World project and the associated renewable energy credits (RECs) as part of a 20-year power purchase agreement. PacifiCorp previously contracted to buy all of the output and RECs from Duke Energy's nearby 99-megawatt (MW) Campbell Hill Windpower Project, scheduled to come on line later this year.

Duke Energy expects to start construction of the Top of the World project in late 2009 or early 2010, upon receipt of all necessary permits. The project will use at least 66 G.E. turbines - each capable of producing 1.5 MW.

In total, Duke Energy has more than 500 MW of wind-powered generation projects in operation - a figure that will rise to more than 700 MW by the end of 2009. The company also has an additional 5,000 MW in potential development projects.

Duke Energy supplies and delivers electricity to approximately 4 million U.S. customers in its regulated jurisdictions. The company has approximately 35,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity in the Midwest and the Carolinas, and natural gas distribution services in Ohio and Kentucky. In addition, Duke Energy has more than 4,000 megawatts of electric generation in Latin America. (8/31/09)

Links:

Duke Energy
http://www.duke-energy.com

--- Duke Energy to Build Colorado Wind Farm.

--- Duke Energy Acquires its First Wind Farm in the Eastern U.S.

Disclaimer, Forward-Looking or Safe Harbor Statement on original press release: No