BP Announces Full Commercial Operation of Wind Farm in Texas

BP Wind Energy announced full commercial operation of phase I of the Sherbino Wind Farm in Pecos County, west Texas. The first 150 megawatts (MW) of the project, which has a potential capacity of 750 MW, has been built through a 50-50 joint venture agreement with Padoma Wind Power LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc. Phase I of the project will generate enough carbon-free electricity to power approximately 45,000 average American homes.

“The successful commercial operation of phase I of the Sherbino wind farm with our partner NRG Energy is another example of BP’s commitment to grow its wind portfolio in the U.S.,” says Robert Lukefahr, President, BP Wind Energy North America Inc. “Wind energy is one of America’s most plentiful and important natural resources. The Sherbino wind farm will produce clean, renewable electricity for the next twenty years,” adds Lukefahr.

Construction of the 50-wind turbine facility located some 40 miles east of Fort Stockton in Texas moved into full construction in February 2008. Phase I utilizes 50 Vestas V-90 wind turbine generators, each with a rated capacity of 3 MW. BP will operate phase I of the project.

The clean power produced from phase I of the project will be delivered into the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) transmission system and sold on the wholesale power market.

This is the second wind project in Texas that BP has brought into commercial operation in the past month. The 60 MW Silver Star I Wind Farm located 80 miles southwest of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area became operational on September 24, 2008. The project utilizes 24 Clipper Windpower 2.5 MW Liberty turbines.

By the end of 2008, BP Wind Energy North America Inc. expects to generate over 1,000 MW of zero-carbon electricity from its wind projects.