Duke Energy to expand Kay County wind farm operations

Duke Energy Renewables is expanding its Kay County wind farm operation called Frontier Windpower Project.

The company plans to build the 350-megawatt Frontier Windpower II project by the end of 2020, more than doubling the size of the operation. It will also be the company’s largest capacity project from its 3,000-megawatt wind and solar operations in the U.S.

The original 200-megawatt Frontier Windpower Project became operational in December 2016 and was Due Energy’s first wind farm in Oklahoma. The farm also represented the first time that Vestas’ extra-large 126-meter rotors were deployed in the U.S.

Combined with the new Frontier Windpower II project, the two farms will have a total capacity of 550 megawatts which can provide electricity to nearly 193,000 homes.

“Frontier II will deliver clean energy for Oklahoma and significant economic benefits to the area,” said Rob Caldwell, president of Duke Energy Renewables.

The project will help provide power under a purchase agreement with the Ball Corp., maker of packaging for beverage, personal care and household products. Ball also provides packing services for aerospace and technologies and the U.S. government.