GE Awarded Contract for World’s Largest Wind Farm

Published 12/10/09 Dustin Ensinger - Print ArticleE-mail - editor@economyincisis.org 

General Electric announced Thursday that it has been awarded a $1.4 billion contract to provide wind turbines for what will be the world’s largest wind farm when completed, according to a company press release.

“This is a smart investment in a well structured, contracted power project with an experienced developer using the nation’s best technology,” said Alex Urquhart, president & CEO of GE Energy Financial Services.

The wind farm, owned by independent power producer Caithness Energy, will cover some 30 square miles in the north-central Oregon region and provide enough electricity to power 235,000 California homes.

“This project underscores our commitment to harness the power of wind to meet present and future energy needs while reducing greenhouse emissions. The Shepherds Flat project will add more renewable energy to the west coast’s energy mix and help the region meet its demand for clean energy,” said Les Gelber, a partner at Caithness Energy, in a press release.

GE will provide the wind farm with 338 2.5xl wind turbines.  It will mrk the first time this particular brand of wind turbine has been used in the U.S., according to the press release.  In addition, the contract also stipulates that GE will maintain the facility for a 10-year period.

“The Caithness project highlights our ability to deliver integrated solutions in the clean energy space and it supports our overarching focus to provide first in class technology to our customers,” said Steve Bolze, president & CEO of GE Power & Water.

The project could be a boon economically.  According to the press release, the wind farm will boost the Oregon economy by $16 million per year.  Constructing the farm will provide 400 jobs during construction and another 35 during operation.  The turbines will be manufactured at GE’s Pensacola, Florida facility, although the number of jobs the project would create there was not available.

“Our capability to build these machines here in the United States and provide local resources and expertise were key factors in winning the contract with Caithness Energy,” Bolze noted.

Slated to be completed in 2012, the project will be very environmentally friendly, removing some 1.5 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere each year.

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