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EDF Renewable Energy (EDF RE) has signed an agreement to supply Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA) with 100MW of wind energy from the Stoneray Wind Project in Minnesota beginning in 2020. Construction is expected to commence in early 2018 with an anticipated commercial operation date (COD) of December 2018.
Stoneray Wind Project, located in Pipestone and Murray counties in Southwestern Minnesota, will be comprised of up to 50 wind turbine generators. The project was made possible due to grid transmission expansion. These important improvements propel the project forward, and with it comes an expected 150+ construction jobs and 10 long-term, full-time positions as well as millions of dollars in economic benefits to the local area.
“EDF RE is pleased to expand on its strong historical working relationship with SMMPA to help meet their energy supply goals and objectives,” commented Kate O’Hair, Vice President for Development-North Region. “Minnesota has long been a key state for EDF RE due to its favorable regulatory environment, excellent wind resource, and advantageous transmission expansion. Stoneray marks our twelfth wind project developed in the state totaling over 1.2 GW and further demonstrates EDF RE’s commitment to investment, involvement and employment in Minnesota.”
“Stoneray Wind is a big addition to SMMPA’s diverse renewable energy portfolio,” said Dave Geschwind, SMMPA’s Executive Director and CEO. “Building on the success of the 100.5 MW Wapsipinicon Wind project with EDF RE, we’re glad to be working further with EDF RE to provide more Minnesota wind energy to our Members and economic benefits to southern Minnesota through this important project.”
The expected electricity generated at full capacity is enough to meet the consumption of up to 47,000 average Minnesota homes. This is equivalent to avoiding more than 300,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually1 which represents the greenhouse gas emissions from 64,000 passenger vehicles driven over the course of one year.
EDF Renewable Energy is one of the largest renewable energy developers in North America with 9 gigawatts of wind, solar, biomass, and biogas projects developed throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
(Photo courtesy to EDF RE)