First Wind Farm Operating in Willacy County

RAYMONDVILLE, Texas, Aug. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- E.ON Climate & Renewables (EC&R) North America celebrated the official opening of the Magic Valley Wind Farm today with an onsite ceremony.

The project, located approximately 5 miles east of Raymondville and the first wind energy project in Willacy County, is powered by 112 Vestas 1.8 megawatt turbines providing more than 200 megawatts (MW) of power—enough to provide clean power to more than 60,000 households in Texas.

"We are honored to be a part of the local community, and we look forward to providing economic support and renewable, homegrown energy for many years to come," said Steve Trenholm, CEO, EC&R North America, at a ceremony marking the dedication. "Wind farms create jobs, and provide an economic shot in the arm to farmers, ranchers, and rural communities across America."

Construction was completed by Blattner Energy.

More than 200 people were hired during construction and the project will employ approximately 20 permanent positions in Willacy County on the wind farm. 

EC&R has invested more than $4 billion dollars in the U.S. in the last four years, creating more than 4,000 construction jobs and another 200 permanent jobs to keep its wind farms up and running.

Overall, the wind industry has invested more than $60 billion in providing 35 percent of the electric capacity in the U.S. in the last four years and employs more than 75,000 people, including 30,000 in good American jobs in the manufacturing sector from coast to coast.

"We appreciate the support this community has given us helping harvest a new source of clean renewable energy from these cotton and sorghum fields," said Trenholm, during the ceremony.

The operation of this project marks the 16th operational wind farm in North America for EC&R, giving the company more than 2,000 MW online in the state of Texas alone.

About EC&R

E.ON Climate & Renewables (EC&R) is responsible for the E.ON group's renewable energy and environmental protection activities around the world. Tapping renewable energy sources offers enormous alternatives, both from a business perspective and for the environment. E.ON Climate & Renewables will be investing €7 billion in renewable energy and environmental protection projects over the next five years to expand the share of renewable energy in E.ON's portfolio for the long term. E.ON has thus taken a leading role in developing renewable energy sources worldwide. For more information, please visit www.eon.com/renewables.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by E.ON Group management and other information currently available to E.ON. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. E.ON AG does not intend, and does not assume any liability whatsoever, to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Matt Tulis, Communications Manager, EC&R NA
512.423.1840 [email protected]

SOURCE E.ON Climate & Renewables