HOUSTON, Aug. 26 // -- Horizon Wind Energy LLC (Horizon), a leading wind project developer, owner, and operator, owned by EDP Renovaveis, has just opened the doors to its new office located in Overland Park, Kansas. Horizon is currently constructing the 201 megawatt (MW) Meridian Way Wind Farm in Concordia, Kansas, and has hundreds of megawatts under development across the state.
Kansas ranks number 12 in wind power in the United States with less than 400 MWs installed, but will climb in rank this year to nearly 1000 MW of total installed capacity, enough wind power to provide clean, renewable energy to more than 300,000 Kansas homes.
"Today clean energy is at the center of our attention; new technologies and improvements in existing technologies are key to addressing our energy needs and climate change," said Ken Ripper, Chief Technical Officer, Horizon Wind Energy. "Horizon is proud to do business in the great State of Kansas and applauds the efforts taking place at Cloud County Community College to educate and train the next generation of wind technicians. The school currently has 50 students enrolled and is beginning a web-based program. Horizon has hired some of these students as interns and full-time employees at our Meridian Way Wind Farm and is very pleased with the results."
There are more than 1700 MW of interconnection requests for Kansas wind projects in the Southwest Power Pool transmission queue. These projects and continued development of wind in the state would contribute significantly to the U.S. Department of Energy's "20% by 2030" wind scenario, with at least 7000 MW of Kansas wind power anticipated to come on-line in that timeframe. Growth of this nature could bring nearly $20 million per year to landowners, $1.3 billion to local economies during construction, and hundreds of new long-term jobs.
Lt. Governor Mark Parkinson was in attendance to celebrate the opening of the new office. "Renewable energy not only brings clean electricity to our state -- but new jobs as well. We welcome the Horizon team to Kansas and we're pleased that they'll be joining our effort to secure a clean energy future."
Based in Houston, Texas and with regional offices in Kansas, New York, Oregon, Illinois, California, Colorado, and Minnesota, Horizon Wind Energy has developed more than 2,000 megawatts (MW) and operates over 1,500 MW of wind farms. Horizon currently has over 11,000 MW in its development pipeline. Horizon is owned by EDP Renovaveis, a global leader in the renewable energy sector. Currently, EDP Renovaveis is the world's fourth largest wind energy company. For more information, please visit http://www.horizonwind.com
