City of Grand Island announces first renewable energy purchase, signs agreement with Invenergy for Nebraska wind power

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Jun 24, 2015, 12:00 ET

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. and CHICAGO, June 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of Grand Island has signed a long-term agreement to purchase approximately 36 megawatts (MW) of power from Invenergy's Prairie Breeze III Wind Energy Center (Prairie Breeze III), which is to be built in Antelope County, Nebraska this year. This is the City's first direct renewable energy purchase.

The announcement comes after a city council resolution to approve the Grand Island Utilities Department's negotiation and execution of a power purchase agreement. The Department provides water and electric service for approximately 50,000 residential and business customers within the municipality.

A portion of the output from Prairie Breeze III may be purchased from the City of Grand Island by two other Nebraska municipalities who have interest in project participation, Neligh and Nebraska City.

Prairie Breeze III will consist of 20 General Electric wind turbines, with facility construction scheduled to begin this summer and conclude in 2016. The project will bring numerous economic benefits to the community, including:

generating more than $350,000 annually in local taxes, landowner payments, and staff salaries
approximately 90 jobs during construction
two full-time technician positions

"This is an excellent opportunity for Grand Island's customers to participate in the benefits of renewable energy at prices competitive with other energy sources," said Tim Luchsinger, Grand Island utilities director. "Diversification of our energy portfolio will reduce the risk of future rate impacts and, in this case, provide additional benefits to our environment and our state. This is also another opportunity for us to continue to work with other public power partners in providing economic energy solutions for our customers."

"We're delighted to sign this long-term agreement with the City of Grand Island, and we applaud its forward-thinking clean energy leadership," said Jim Shield, chief development officer at Invenergy. "Homegrown wind power is a win-win for Nebraska by generating jobs and tax revenue while also creating a cleaner, healthier environment. Invenergy is pleased to continue to invest in Nebraska through our newest wind power generation project in the state."

Prairie Breeze III will be the third phase of Invenergy's original Prairie Breeze Wind Energy Center, a 201 MW facility in Antelope and Boone Counties which began operation in 2014. The project's second phase, the 73 MW Prairie Breeze II Wind Energy Center, currently is in construction in Antelope and Boone Counties, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. In all, once Prairie Breeze III becomes operational, the three phases will employ a combined total of 20 staff members at Invenergy's operations building in the town of Elgin.

Nebraska is one of the nation's top 20 states in installed wind power, having attracted more than $1.5 billion in wind industry investment. The state has a wind resource capable of meeting more than 100 percent of its current electricity needs.

For more information on this project or other city of Grand Island utility projects contact Utilities Director Tim Luchsinger at 308-385-5444 ext. 280, go to www.grand-island.com/utilities, or like the Department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GrandIslandUtilities.

About Invenergy
Invenergy and its affiliated companies develop, own, and operate large-scale renewable and other clean energy generation and storage facilities in North America and Europe. Invenergy is committed to continued innovation in clean power solutions. Invenergy's home office is located in Chicago and it has regional development offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Europe.

Invenergy and its affiliated companies have developed more than 9,000 MW of projects that are in operation, in construction, or under contract, including 75 wind, solar, and natural gas-fueled power generation projects and energy storage facilities. For more information, please visit www.invenergyllc.com.

SOURCE Invenergy