Before April is out, Southern Power will start marshaling its forces as it begins work on the Reading Wind Energy project.
Southern Asset Manager Rachel Petry led a panel of administrators updating the pre-construction process for the nearly 24,000-acre development during Thursday’s Lyon County Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting. Petry says mobilization will start as soon as April 29, with road construction possibly starting by May 8. Turbine delivery is not expected until October. The project could finish by late March 2020.
Last October, Southern acquired the 200-megawatt project from RES Americas, which gained approval from Lyon County after roughly a decade of discussions, negotiations and research. Royal Caribbean joined the partnership as a link in a verified carbon offset program. Ultimately, the wind farm will create enough wind energy to offset as much as 12 percent of Royal Caribbean’s yearly carbon emissions starting as soon as next year.
Over 60 Siemens Gamesa turbines will generate the power once the project is built out. Towers will be 80 meters tall with a trio of 120-meter rotor blades attached.
Southern’s presentation came a week after Lyon County approved a road agreement for the property, which straddles the Lyon-Osage county line near Reading and is four miles north of Westar Energy’s Emporia Energy Center peak usage plant.
The original agreement between RES Americas and Lyon County included a payment in lieu of tax section. Lyon County is getting $300,000 per year for 30 years as part of the agreement. After the overall agreement expires, Petry says the turbines will be brought down and the land will be available for other uses.
