Southern Power continues to make progress as it literally lays the foundation for its wind energy facility near Reading and Osage City.
Senior Vice President Bob Schaffeld tells KVOE News a lot of work has already taken place in the 24,000-acre development, even though residents or passersby may not notice. The current focus is laying the bases for the over 60 turbine towers. The construction process on the turbine towers themselves could start by October.
The plant will generate around 200 megawatts of electricity when it’s fully online next year. Some test energy could be produced by the end of the year.
Southern Power, RES Americas and Royal Caribbean are partners with this project, which could create enough wind energy to offset as much as 12 percent of Royal Caribbean’s yearly carbon emissions starting as soon as next year.
Towers will go first in an area between Roads 170 and 230 south to north and between Kansas Highway 99 and Road U west to east. Turbine parts will be shipped to the site starting next month.
