BP, Dominion laud success of Indiana wind farm venture

BP and Dominion Announce Full Commercial Operation of Largest Wind Farm in Midwest

BP Wind Energy and Dominion have announced full commercial operation of the first phase of the partners’ Fowler Ridge Wind Farm in Benton County, Ind., capable of producing 400 megawatts of electricity in optimum conditions — enough to power about 120,000 homes.

BP and Dominion are currently assessing areas north of Big Stone Gap and Appalachia in Wise County for a potential wind farm project, as well as potential wind farm sites in Tazewell County. Dominion is also the utility building a 585 megawatt coal-fired power plant in St. Paul planned to be operational in 2012. The partners in wind energy projects say they could expand the Indiana facility to 750 megawatts in the future. Construction of the first phase uses 1.65 megawatt turbines with a hub height of 262 feet and a rotor diameter of 269 feet, and 2.5 megawatt turbines with a hub height of about 262 feet and a rotor diameter of 314 feet. A total of 850 workers were employed at the peak of construction of the Indiana project. A full-time staff of 36 is employed to monitor and maintain the first phase of the facility, the companies said.

“The commercial operation of the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm marks an important step for BP in helping Indiana increase its role as a provider of energy to support growing state and national demands. This wind farm will deliver more than 1 billion kilowatt hours of clean, renewable electricity every year and brings new revenue streams to rural communities without impact on traditional farming and grazing practices. The cooperation of the landowners, county officials, contractors and subcontractors has been the key to the success of this project.”

Dominion Chairman Thomas F. Farrell II said such projects represent part of the solution to the nation’s energy-independent future.

“To ensure reliability and price stability, the U.S. will need to utilize diverse fuel sources in the generation of electricity, and these are concrete steps in that direction. Wind is and will continue to be an important part of the mix.”

BP America is the largest producer of oil and gas in the United States and one of the nation’s largest energy investors. For more information, visit the company’s Web sites at http://www.bpalternativenergy.com, http://www.bp.com/us or http://www.dom.com.