Outland Renewable Energy Awarded Wind Farm O&M Contract by Xcel Energy

CANBY, Minn., May 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Xcel Energy has awarded Outland Renewable Energy a three-year contract to provide operations and maintenance services at Xcel Energy's 100-megawatt (MW) Grand Meadow wind farm in Mower County, Minnesota. The wind farm, developed for Xcel Energy by enXco Development Corp., began commercial operation in December, 2008. Its sixty-seven GE 1.5 MW wind turbines produce enough clean renewable energy to power 25,000 Minnesota homes each year. Outland will begin its operations and maintenance (O&M) of Grand Meadow in October, 2010.

"We are honored and delighted to provide our O&M expertise to an industry leader like Xcel Energy," said Steve Scott, President & COO of Outland. "The fact that Grand Meadow is the first wind farm in Minnesota that Xcel Energy owns, makes the O&M agreement all the more meaningful to our team."

"We're pleased to award this contract to Outland Renewable Energy, a Minnesota-based firm that is a recognized leader in delivering customized O&M for wind generation owners," said Lloyd Hilgart, Xcel Energy peaking plant director. "As the number one wind-power providing utility in the United States, we feel Outland's expertise in wind turbine maintenance is a great asset to Xcel Energy."  

"As a result of winning this contract with Xcel Energy, Outland now operates and maintains more than 700 MWs of installed wind turbine capacity under long-term contract," said Cam Winton, Outland Renewable Energy's Director of Project Administration. "We continue to focus on our mission of being a trusted and respected O&M partner through the services we deliver, however big or small the assignment."

About Outland Renewable Energy

Outland Renewable Energy is an established leader in commissioning, operating, and maintaining wind energy facilities throughout the United States, and is the first and only U.S.-based wind energy operations and maintenance company to achieve ISO 9001:2008 quality management certification. The company maintains its North American headquarters in Canby, Minnesota. More information is available at www.outlandenergy.com.

About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company that provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity customers and 1.9 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies in eight Western and Midwestern states. Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis. More information is available at xcelenergy.com.

SOURCE Outland Renewable Energy