The largest wind project in the world has moved a step towards becoming reality with Mesa Power, the Dallas-based company formed for the project by Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens announcing that the first 667 wind turbines have been ordered. The 1.5 MW GE wind turbines are the first of 4 assignments required for the project with delivery expected in 2010 and 2011.

The Pampa Wind Project is a four-phase wind project that will be capable of producing up to 4,000MW of electricity, enough to power up to 1.5 million homes. It will cover around 400,000 acres in the Texas Panhandle when completed and that completion date is expected to be some time in 2014. The first phase is scheduled for completion in 2011.

The estimated cost of phase 1 of the project is around the $2 billion mark with final costs looking like they will fall somewhere within the $8 - $10 billion mark. Landowner lease payments alone are expected to amount to $65 million per year.

Not only is the wind project the largest in the world, but the order of wind turbines is the single largest order placed by a company. Before the project is complete there will be another 3 orders of the same size.

Pickens has been quoted as saying, “It’s clear that landowners and local officials understand the economic benefits that this renewable energy can bring not only to landowners who are involved with the project, but also in revitalizing an area that has struggled in recent years.”