The first of 3 new wind power projects in Kansas being undertaken by Westar Energy, Inc has been launched after the company contracted RES America Developments, Inc to develop and construct the Central Plains Wind Farm. This project is part of a program to develop 300MW of wind generated power plants in the state in 2008 with an intent to increase this to 500MW by 2010.

The capacity of the Central Plains Wind Farm will be 99MW which will provide power for around 26,000 homes. The site for the wind farm is in Wichita County between Leoti and Scott City over an area of 6,000 acres and will consist of 33 Vestas V90-3.0 MW wind turbines.

It’s expected that delivery of the turbines and their commissioning will be completed in the second half of 2008.

There is still a need in Kansas to build a base load power plant, probably coal-powered, but the construction of this and the other two wind-powered power plants will allow its construction to be deferred.

The two other wind power projects that Westar will be involved in during 2008 are:

  •  A puchase of 96MW of wind generated electricity from the Meridian Way Wind Farm
  • Construction of the Flat Ridge Wind Farm, a 100MW wind-powered power plant.

To read about more wind power developments, visit the Wind Power page.