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GE to provide turbines for 2,100MW of wind farms in Wyoming

The GE partnership could see 840 turbines set up if Pathfinder's full 2,100MW potential is realized

Wind developer Pathfinder Renewable Wind Energy has said it has agreed for GE to supply wind turbines for up to 2,100 megawatts of wind projects in the state of Wyoming.

Pathfinder, which is based in Alcova, is led by a power development subsidiary of Sammons Enterprises, Inc.

The company purchased the historic Pathfinder Ranch in Sweetwater County  in 2008. It is also working with partners including UC Ranch, Turkey Track Ranch and the Bordeaux Landowner Association, to develop wind projects.

“Pathfinder approaches the development of Wyoming’s wind resources from the perspective of a ranching landowner,” said Jeff Meyer, managing partner of Pathfinder.

“We’ve found the GE team to be responsive and creative in supporting Pathfinder’s unique vision for wind energy development in the Western US.”

Zephyr

Last week saw Pathfinder allocated up to 2,100 megawatts of transmission capacity for wind developments in Wyoming, as part of the 3,000-megawatt Zephyr Power Transmission project being developed by TransCanada.

Horizon Wind Energy LLC, and BP Wind Energy NA Inc, have also been signed up for transmission access with the TransCanada project.

The $3 billion Zephyr project is a 1,000 mile high-voltage direct current (HVDC) line that would move power from Wyoming to markets in the southwest US.

If the project goes ahead, it could see construction starting in 2013, with commercial operations in late 2015 or early 2016.

GE offers onshore wind turbines of 1.5Mw or 2.5MW rated capacity. If the larger turbines were used to provide the full 2,100MW of generating output available under the Zephyr transmission project, the Pathfinder wind development work could lead to 840 turbines set up.