MOHAVE COUNTY – The largest renewable energy project in Mohave County began generating electricity in mid-December without any fanfare. After so many projects fell by the wayside over so many years, the White Hills Wind project initiated commercial scale production on Dec. 16, about 40 miles north of Kingman.
There was no ribbon cutting or news release. In fact, owner Next Era Energy declined to provide operations information during separate media inquiries in recent months.
Information instead comes from the Clean Power Alliance (CPA), a southern California retail energy provider. The company has a 20-year purchase agreement to draw power from the 126 wind turbines that are scattered over more than 24,000 acres.
White Hills Wind generates 350 megawatts of electricity, most of the energy contracted to CPA. External Affairs Manager Joseph Cabral said CPS pulls 300 MW from the wind farm each hour of the day, seven days a week.
“CPA procures renewable energy to meet our customers’ large demand for clean energy as well as to meet California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard Program requirements,” Cabral said. “Clean Power Alliance serves 100% Green power to more customers than any other energy provider in the nation. CPA serves approximately three-million customers andon-million customer accounts across 32 communities throughout Southern California.”
The White Hills Wind project was launched by BP Wind Energy 20 years ago. Orion Energy followed, before the Florida-based Next Era took over several years ago to complete the effort.
Dave Hawkins
Hopefully these windmills & products are being made in the USA & not China.