Chicago-based Invenergy Clean Power has launched commercial operation of its 600-MW Nelson Energy Center in Lee County, Illinois.
The natural gas-fired combined-cycle project uses GE 7FA gas turbines and GE steam turbines to generate power.
According to a statement issued by the company on Monday, Invenergy is selling a portion of the project’s output to WPPI Energy, a regional power company serving 51 locally-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities.
The remaining power is for sale in the wholesale market of regional power transmission organization PJM Interconnection.
“Nelson is our first operating natural gas-fired power generation facility in our home state of Illinois,” said Jim Shield, chief development officer for Invenergy. “Our statewide operating portfolio – which includes wind, solar, and energy storage projects – now totals more than 1,200 MW.”
ALSO READ: Invenergy starts commercial run of 31.5-MW storage project
Invenergy recently arranged debt and tax equity project financing for its 200 MW Buckeye Wind Energy Center, which is under construction at Ellis County in Kansas.
Morgan Stanley Senior Funding and affiliates acted as the sole lead arranger, administrative agent, and lender for the construction financing.
Unnamed financial institutions have made tax equity commitments for the project.
The Buckeye wind farm which will deploy GE 1.79 MW wind turbines is expected to go into commercial operation in the fourth quarter of this year.
Lincoln Electric System will purchase power from the project on a long-term arrangement.
Ajith Kumar S