Duke-American Transmission Co., a joint venture of Duke
Energy and American Transmission Co., announced it has acquired the Zephyr
Power Transmission Project from a subsidiary of Pathfinder Renewable Wind
Energy.
The Zephyr project is a $3.5 billion, 500-kilovolt
high-voltage direct current project, with an AC/DC converter station at each
terminus. The project starts from Chugwater and ends in the Eldorado
Valley just south of Las Vegas, and expects the transmission line
would be in service in 2020.
DATC‘s Zephyr project
creates a highly efficient and strategic connection between the wind-rich areas
of Wyoming and electricity load centers in California and
the southwestern U.S.
Phil Grigsby, Duke Energy Commercial Businesses senior
vice president, said, “Zephyr is an ambitious energy infrastructure
project that is laser-focused on providing an integrated solution to a
recurring problem facing America: How do we get clean, renewable energy to the
population centers?”
Duke-American Transmission Co will also continue the
design and development of the proposed 950-mile transmission line that would
deliver wind energy generated in
eastern Wyoming to California and the south
western United States.
Pathfinder and DATC have agreed to work together to
increase the viability of the integrated projects. Pathfinder committed to use
at least 2,100 megawatts (MW) of the Zephyr project’s 3,000-MW capacity.
“Pathfinder remains a Wyoming-based company and
we look forward to continuing our commitment to the state. The time was right
to bring a proven, experienced transmission developer to the team, and in DATC
we found an ideal partner,” said Jeff Meyer, managing partner of
Pathfinder.
Pathfinder is developing a wind power project on more
than 100,000 acres near Chugwater, Wyo.
“The success of this transmission project is
dependent upon on the success of Pathfinder’s generation project, and vice
versa,” said John Flynn, vice president, Strategic Planning and
Business Development for American Transmission Co.
By GreentechLead.com Team
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