Westar Energy announced today that it is purchasing 200 MW of new wind energy from Apex Clean Energy. With this addition, Westar will satisfy Kansas statutes requiring 15% of its energy portfolio to come from renewable sources (Kansas RES).
The wind project is in Kay County, Oklahoma, about 6 miles south of Arkansas City, Kansas.
Westar Energy expands wind program.
Construction
will bring about $90 million to the Kansas economy.
Topeka, Kan., Nov. 6, 2013
— Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR) reached agreement with Apex Clean Energy to
purchase 200 megawatts of electricity from a wind farm Apex will build near
Arkansas City.
“This project is great for
our customers,” Mark Ruelle, chief executive officer, said. “For the first time,
we’ve been able to add renewable energy at a cost comparable to our other
energy resources. In addition, the project will bring about $90 million to the Kansas
economy during construction and provide millions more in ongoing economic benefits.”
The project is near one of
Westar Energy’s recently constructed high-voltage transmission lines, meaning
that hooking it up will be less costly and less disruptive. It comprises about 18,000
acres six miles south of Arkansas City, just across the state line.
Construction is anticipated to begin in 2015, and the wind farm is expected to
begin providing electricity in late 2016.
“When construction starts, Arkansas City likely see
a boost in our economy from the local hiring, as well as the presence of other
construction workers who will eat, sleep and shop in our community,” Nickolaus
Hernandez, city manager of Arkansas City, said in support of the project. “The
Kay Wind project will bring significant economic benefits to the people of
Arkansas City for decades to come.”
Westar currently has about
700 MW of renewable energy in its generation portfolio. It was the first
utility in Kansas to add commercial scale wind energy to its generation, with a
pilot project in 1999. It remains a leader in renewable energy.
Apex Clean Energy is
developing a number of large-scale wind energy projects in the Midwest.
“We are very pleased to be
working with Westar, and we look forward to a strong long-term relationship
moving forward,” said Mark Goodwin, president of Apex. “The Kay project
will bring clean energy, at a great value, to Westar and its customers.”
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Westar
Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR) is Kansas’ largest electric utility. For more than a
century, we have provided Kansans the safe, reliable electricity needed to
power their businesses and homes. Every day our team of professionals takes on
projects to generate and deliver electricity, protect the environment and
provide excellent service to our nearly 700,000 customers. Westar has 7,200 MW
of electric generation capacity fueled by coal, uranium, natural gas, wind and
landfill gas. We are also a leader in electric transmission in Kansas. Our
innovative customer service programs include mobile-enabled customer care, a
smart meter pilot project and paving the way for electric vehicle adoption. Our
employees live, volunteer and work in the communities we serve.
For more information about Westar Energy, visit us
on the Internet at http://www.WestarEnergy.com. Westar Energy is on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/WestarEnergyInc and Twitter: www.Twitter.com/WestarEnergy.
Apex Clean Energy is an independent renewable energy
company based in Charlottesville, VA. Since its founding in 2009, Apex has
become one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry. In December 2012,
Apex completed the development and construction of the 300 MW Canadian Hills
Wind project outside Oklahoma City. The company has a diversified portfolio of
wind energy facilities in development around the country and owns several
operating solar PV assets. The company’s management team comprises experts from
throughout the industry whose collective prior experience includes the
development, financing, construction and operation of over $10 billion in wind
and solar energy facilities now operating in the United States. For more
information about Apex, please visit www.apexcleanenergy.com.
Media Contact,
Westar Energy:
Gina Penzig
Director, corporate communications
Phone: 785.575.8089
Media line: 888.613.0003
Investor
Contact, Westar Energy:
Bruce Burns
Director, investor relations
Phone: 785.575.8227
Media Contact,
Apex Clean Energy:
Dahvi Wilson
Communications manager
Phone: 434.220.6351
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