Rush Creek Wind Project
| Rush Creek Wind Project | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Limon, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 39°10′20″N103°50′43″W/ 39.17222°N 103.84528°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | June 2017 |
| Commission date | December 2018 |
| Construction cost | $1 billion |
| Owner | Xcel Energy |
| Operator | Xcel Energy |
| Wind farm | |
| Type | Onshore |
| Hub height | 80 m |
| Rotor diameter | 110 m |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 300Vestasturbines |
| Make and model | V110/2000 (2.0MW) |
| Nameplate capacity | 600 MW |
| Capacity factor | 38.9%(average 2019-2021) |
| Annual net output | 2,043GW·h |
TheRush Creek Wind Projectis a 600megawatt(MW)wind facilityin easternColorado,located west of the town ofLimon.It increased the wind generating capacity in the state by 20% when it came online in late 2018.[1]The facility is financed, owned, and operated byXcel Energy,the largest public utility in the state. The project was developed primarily for its numerous economic benefits since Xcel previously met the minimum 30% requirement of Colorado's 2020renewable portfolio standard.[2][3]
Facility details
[edit]The facility consists of two wind farms that occupy 95,000 acres of leased private land.[4]The largest grouping of turbines is withinElbert Countynear the community ofMathesonand located about 60 miles southeast ofDenver.A smaller grouping of turbines is located 35 miles east and spans the intersections ofCheyenne,Kit Carson,andLincoln Countynear the town ofHugo.83 miles of new 345 kV overhead transmission line carry the electricity to the Xcel Energy substation nearDeer TrailinArapahoe County.[5]
Most components for the 300Vestas2.0 MW turbines were produced at the four nearby manufacturing facilities inPueblo,Brighton,andWindsor, Colorado,which together employ about 3,500 people. Overall, it is estimated that each turbine supports about 30 jobs over the course of its lifetime through its manufacturing, supply chain, construction, and operation.[6] The facility is also expected to generate $180 million in landowner lease payments and property tax revenues in the counties where it resides.[7]
Xcel Energy contractedInvenergyto lead the development and asset management of the facility through the construction phase.Mortenson Constructionserved as theEPCcontractor for the project. Construction began in June 2017 and completed in December 2018, employing about 350 workers. The facility consists of 300 turbines, two substations, maintenance building, access roads, and transmission lines.[1]About 34 permanent jobs were also created to maintain the facility, and Xcel has partnered with the Vestas operations group to assist with maximizing the electricity production. It is expected to generate enough electricity to meet the needs of about 325,000 Colorado homes. [7]
Electricity production
[edit]| Year | Total AnnualMW·h |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 194,543* |
| 2019 | 1,975,124 |
| 2020 | 2,024,321 |
| 2021 | 2,128,334 |
| Average (years 2019-2021) ---> | 2,042,593 |
(*) partial year of operation
See also
[edit]
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ab"Rush Creek Wind Project".Mortenson.RetrievedMarch 20,2019.
- ^"Colorado Wind Power".Xcel Energy.RetrievedMarch 18,2019.
- ^"Xcel Energy Files for $1 Billion Rush Creek Wind Project".The Denver Post. June 2, 2016.
- ^"Rush Creek Wind Project".Xcel Energy.RetrievedMarch 20,2019.
- ^"Rush Creek Connect".Xcel Energy.RetrievedMarch 20,2019.
- ^Cathy Proctor (January 2, 2018)."Vestas sets wind turbine sales record, plans to keep Colorado plants busy".Denver Business Journal.
- ^ab"Rush Creek Wind Farm - Colorado".Power Technology.RetrievedMarch 20,2019.
- ^"Rush Creek Wind, Annual".Electricity Data Browser.Energy Information Administration.RetrievedJanuary 11,2023.
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