Duke Energy Chooses Siemens Turbines to Build Kansas Wind Farm

Duke Energy DUK will use 73 Siemens wind turbines, each capable of generating 2.3 megawatts of emission-free electricity, to build its first wind farm in Kansas. Duke Energy Renewables, a commercial business unit of Duke Energy, will build, own and operate the 168-megawatt Ironwood Windpower Project in Ford County – approximately 150 miles west of Wichita. Topeka-based Westar Energy will purchase all of the electricity and associated renewable energy credits produced by the site under the terms of a 20-year agreement. Duke Energy Renewables plans to start construction of the Ironwood Windpower Project in the fall of 2011. The wind farm – expected to reach commercial operation by mid-2012 – will be capable of generating enough electricity to power more than 50,000 homes. "The Ironwood Windpower Project, which will help Westar deliver clean energy to its customers for decades to come, marks another milestone for Duke Energy: it's our first wind farm in Kansas and will put us well over 1,000 megawatts of wind power capacity in the U.S.," said Greg Wolf, president of Duke Energy Renewables.