Xcel Energy completes Hale Wind Project in Texas

Xcel Energy completed the Hale Wind Project in Plainview, Texas, a facility that will provide wind energy to customers in Texas and New Mexico.

It is the first wind farm Xcel Energy has built and owned in the Texas-New Mexico area.

“Hale Wind is the culmination of years of planning by local landowners who were determined to reap the benefits of wind energy for their home communities while providing a clean energy resource for electric customers across a wide region,” David Hudson, president, Xcel Energy – New Mexico, Texas, said. “Xcel Energy has been privileged to play a key role in making this dream a reality.”

Xcel Energy invested about $700 million in getting the Hale Wind Project up and running. More than 300 workers were involved in its construction while the facility will employ 20 permanent maintenance and operations jobs.

Xcel is also planning to build the Sagamore Wind Project in New Mexico. Further, the company will purchase wind energy from NextEra Energy Resources wind facilities in Cochran and Crosby counties in Texas. These added wind resources will reduce fuel costs to customers and carbon emissions. Xcel Energy has the goal to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050.

“These fuel cost savings are already flowing through to our customers,” Hudson said. “Additionally, we are passing along 100 percent of the savings from the federal production tax credits that are being generated at the Hale Wind Project.”

Additionally, the Hale Wind will infuse the tax base with approximately $22 million in property tax payments over 25 years.

“The rural economy is greatly benefited by wind energy, which is why so many local landowners were eager to see this project come to life,” Hudson said.