Duke Energy Renewables’ Mesteño Windpower project in Texas begins commercial operation

Duke Energy Renewables announced Monday that its 200-megawatt (MW) Mesteño Windpower project in Starr County, Texas started commercial operation on Dec. 31, 2019.

The energy produced by the project will be sold into the ERCOT market. Duke Energy Renewables, a commercial business unit of Duke Energy, has entered into a long-term hedge agreement covering the majority of the expected wind energy production.

The project contains turbines that are 590.5 feet tall, which makes them some of the tallest wind turbines in the United States. The height of the turbines enables them to harness stronger winds, resulting in increased energy production.

“We’re excited to bring another wind project online in Texas and plan to continue investing in renewable energy in the state,” Rob Caldwell, president of Duke Energy Renewables, said. “This project will deliver clean energy and significant economic benefits.”

Duke Energy Renewables noted that Mesteño created approximately 200 jobs during peak construction and will provide more than $16 million in tax revenue over its first 10 years of operation.

Amshore US Wind provided development support for Mesteño, and Wanzek Construction is the contractor. Vestas supplied 56 3.6 MW turbines for the project.

“We’re pleased to expand our tall tower technology and V136-3.6 MW platform,” Chris Brown, president of Vestas’ sales and service division in the United States and Canada, said. “The combination of taller towers and V136-3.6 MW technology is perfectly designed to extract the abundant resource at the site, and deliver low-cost, reliable energy to the community and customer.”

The Mesteño Windpower project is Duke Energy’s fourth wind generation facility in Starr County and its 11th in Texas.