Two energy visionaries teamed up to build a safe and reliable wind facility deep in the heart of Texas. Southern Power, a leading U.S. wholesale energy provider and subsidiary of Southern Company, collaborated with RES, the world’s largest independent renewable energy company, to establish the Cactus Flats Wind Facility.
The project featured widespread collaboration among a variety of stakeholders. Southern Power and RES fostered relationships with local public officials, landowners, small business owners, and others to ensure the project’s success.
“The 148-megawatt Cactus Flats Wind Facility in Concho County, Texas, continues to be recognized as a model for collaboration between customer and community,” says Joel Leineke, president of RES Construction in the Americas. “Cactus Flats created 250 jobs during peak construction and now provides significant direct and indirect economic benefits to Concho County.”
Even more, the Cactus Flats Wind Facility earned Gold for Project of the Year at 2019 The Cleanie Awards®. The awards recognize innovation excellence, business leadership, and superior programs within the cleantech and renewable energy sectors.
Cactus Flats features 43 wind turbines. General Mills and General Motors are purchasing the electricity and associated renewable energy credits generated by the facility
Southern Power generates more than 11,000 megawatts of capacity across 50 facilities in 13 states. Southern Power is a key driver in helping its parent company reach its long-term goal of low- to no-carbon operations by 2050.
To get there, Southern Power understands a host of renewable technologies will be required.
“The best path to a sustainable future will incorporate multiple technologies interfacing with the grid and customers at different points,” says Leighton Burkett, Southern Power communications manager. “Southern Company is approaching this vision with an all-of-the-above strategy. That includes solar, wind, storage, the country’s first new nuclear units and new, efficient natural gas.”
Cactus Flats is Southern Power’s fifth wind project in Texas. The company’s wind portfolio includes nearly 1,900 megawatts and is a part of Southern Power’s 3,000-megawatt renewable fleet.
RES, founded in the early 1980s, pioneered wind turbine technology and is active today in onshore and offshore wind, solar, energy storage and transmission and distribution. RES has delivered more than 16 gigawatts of renewable energy projects across the globe. The delivery of Cactus Flats brings RES closer to fulfilling its vision of a future where everyone has access to affordable zero carbon energy.