Edison Mission Group (EMG), a subsidiary of Edison International, announced that it has begun commercial operation of the 150-megawatt (MW) Cedro Hill wind project in the southern Texas town of Bruni, located about 40 miles east of Laredo.
All of the electricity produced by the project is being sold under a 20-year power purchase agreement with CPS Energy of San Antonio, the nation抯largest municipally owned natural gas and electric utility.
Cedro Hill is EMG's third wind energy project in Texas, joining the 161-MW Wildorado Wind Ranch near Amarillo and the 149-MW Goat Wind project near San Angelo. EMG is one of the largest developers, owners and operators of wind energy in the country with 29 projects in 10 states with a total generating capacity of more than 1,800 MW.
"Texas has been an important anchor for the rapid growth of our renewable energy business," said Ron Litzinger, chief executive officer of EMG. "In partnership with CPS Energy, we are pleased to provide this new, clean energy source to the residents and businesses of San Antonio," he added.
The Cedro Hill wind project is powered by 100 GE turbines with a generating capacity of 1.5 MW each. At full capacity, the project can produce enough power to meet the needs of about 40,000 homes. The project spans 20,000 acres. It interconnects to the electric grid at the La Quinta switching station and connects to CPS Energy through the 138-Kilvolt Lobo-Falfurrias transmission line.
Cedro Hill represents a total investment of $300 million in Webb County. It is supporting the local economy with more than $100 million in property taxes and payments to local landowners over the next 20 years.