A new 242 MW wind farm is nearly complete in northwest Missouri, one that will eventually supply electrical power to residents in northeast Oklahoma. The Tenaska Clear Creek Energy Center is located in Nodaway County and north of the city of Maryville.
Construction is expected to be complete late this year as 111 wind turbines will be installed.
Tenaska has developed more than 10,000 MW of natural gas-fueled and renewable power generation, including Tenaska Clear Creek. Construction of the new wind farm began earlier this year, and Tenaska announced the closing of the project’s financing in April.
On the current schedule, all turbines should be installed by the end of 2019. When complete, Tenaska Clear Creek will provide 242 MW of renewable power for Associated Electric Cooperative Inc., an electric generation and transmission cooperative that provides wholesale power to regional cooperatives in Missouri, southeast Iowa and northeast Oklahoma.
“We selected Tenaska’s Clear Creek project because of its value to our overall portfolio of generation assets and location adjacent to our transmission system,” says David J. Tudor, Associated’s CEO and general manager. “This project will add to Associated’s existing 750 MW of wind resources under long-term power purchase agreements. We look forward to the successful completion of the project and the ultimate value it will provide our member-owners and the local community.”
The project is expected to create more than 300 jobs at peak construction and up to 15 full-time jobs when operational, in addition to opportunities for local businesses to provide goods and services.
The project is also anticipated to result in increased tax revenue of more than $1.2 million annually to local units of government, as well as diversify land use and provide stable income – estimated at more than $1.2 million annually – to landowners through lease payments.
Tenaska has also established a community fund that will support programs in Nodaway County. Once the wind farm is operational, it will contribute $15,000 per year for the next 20 years.
In addition to Tenaska Clear Creek, the Tenaska-developed Nobles 2 Power Partners wind farm in southwest Minnesota is under construction. This wind farm is anticipated to be operational by the end of 2020.