Wind Today - Q1 2008 - (Page 43)

In 1955, Rodgers and Hammerstein released a song about the Oklahoma wind that “comes sweepin’ down the plain.” The state later adopted that song, Oklahoma!, as its state song. Fifty years later, Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company, Oklahoma City, OK (OG&E/405-553-3000), took steps to harness some of that notable wind with construction of the Centennial Wind Energy Project. The 80 turbine wind farm is located in Harper County, eight miles north of Fort Supply in northwestern Oklahoma. The wind farm’s GE Energy 1.5 SLE wind turbines provide 120 megawatts (MW) of project capacity. The site’s design is long and narrow, spanning approximately 6,400 acres—running seven miles long by up to two miles deep. Dev Development Jaime McAlpine, president of Chermac Energy, Edmond, OK (405850-6685), says his company began development of the wind farm in 2000. According to McAlpine, Chermac established relationships with landowners, laying the groundwork for the wind farm. In 2004, McAlpine entered into an agreement with Chicago-based developer Invenergy (312-224-1400), whose ability to access wind turbines allowed Chermac to transfer the project to them in 2006 for final development and construction. Mike Sheriff, strategic planner for power supply, OG&E, says his company was approached in 2004 about purchasing the proposed wind farm’s power output. During negotiations to determine an appropriate price for the power, OG&E approached the developer about selling the wind farm to the utility. “The selling price was below the expected average cost of energy for the next 25 years,” says Sheriff. “We determined it would be less expensive for our rate payers if we were to purchase the wind farm outright rather than to pay for the electricity generated,” he continued. OG&E is an investor-owned, regulated electric utility with approximately 762,000 customers in a service area that spans 30,000 square miles in Oklahoma and western Arkansas. According to Sheriff, if the utility simply purchased power, their shareholders would not receive any Facility Highlights Location: Eight miles north of Fort Supply, Harper County, OK. Size: Nameplate rating of 120 MW, covers approximately 6,400 acres. Distance Between Towers: Approximately 800 ft. east to west and ½ to ¾ mile north to south. Project Cost: Total cost of project was $204 million. Developer: Invenergy Wind Development Oklahoma, LLC Owner: Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company (OG&E) Landowners: Four Project Capacity: 120 MW Power Contract: Since the project is owned by the utility, all the energy produced is used by OG&E’s customers. Connector & Transmission System: Connects to OG&E’s transmission grid, operated by SPP. Substation: Point of Interconnect is Woodward District Substation. Utility: OG&E Commissioning: 80th unit was commissioned in January 2007. T urbine Features Turbines: GE 1.5 SLE Tower: 80 meter Blade Length: 77 meter diameter Key OG&E Personnel Project Construction Manager: Mike Sheriff Operations & Maintenance Director: Ray Turner 43

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Wind Today - Q1 2008

Wind Today - Q1 2008 Contents Windpower 2008 U.S. Energy Map Canada Energy Map Global Report Options and Expectations for O&M Service Providers O&M Safety Issues for Wind Farms Guanting Wind Farm to Power 2008 Olympics Operating Economics of Wind Farms Long-Term Operating Costs Post-Warranty Energy Bill Incentives May Have Another Chance Wind Gears: A Closer Look at the Drive Train Elk River Wind Farm Should Lightning Be A Concern For Wind Farms? Interview: Steve Sawyer Zephyr Powers Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort WT News: United States & Canada Interview: Willett Kempton Centennial Wind Energy WT Transmission: Southwest Power Pool EPA's Top 25 Wind Power Projects 2008 RPS Update Mark Scher, MSE Power Systems Richard Legault, Helimax Second Wind Henkels & McCoy NRG Systems Apterra Technologies, Inc. Wind Resource Maps: Michigan and New York Calendar Glossary Product Surveys Ad Index

Wind Today - Q1 2008

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