Sempra, BP to invest $1 billion in wind projects

Sempra U.S. Gas & Power and BP Wind Energy announced plans to invest more than $1 billion in the joint development of the Mehoopany Wind Farm in Pennsylvania and the Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm in Kansas.

Both wind farms, which will be the largest ever built in their respective states, are expected to be operating by the end of the year. The wind farms will have a combined output of 560 megawatts.

Jeffrey W. Martin, president and chief executive of Sempra U.S. Gas & Power, said Tuesday: “This is an exciting time for our company. Over the next 12 months we expect to more than double the size of our operating wind and solar generation portfolios, resulting in significantly improved recurring cash flows from long-term contracted assets.”

Sempra U.S. Gas & Power is a subsidiary of San Diego-based Sempra Energy.

Construction of the Mehoopany Wind Farm in Wyoming County, Pa., began in November. Its power will be used by the Old Dominion Electric Cooperative and Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative Inc.

The Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm will be built about 40 miles southwest of Wichita, Kan. BP will operate both wind farms when they become operational.

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