Wolverine Power Cooperative has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with RES America Developments Inc. (a subsidiary of Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc.), for 114 megawatts (MW) of wind energy and related renewable energy credits in the Thumb area.
The power will come from the Deerfield Wind Energy project, in Huron County. Located on about 20,000 acres in Huron, Bloomfield, Dwight and Lincoln townships, it will provide up to 200 jobs during construction, and then up to six permanent jobs. Currently, over 215 landowners are participating, and will receive royalty payments from Deerfield.
RES Americas will build the project and Wolverine, which is owned by and supplies wholesale electric power to seven members, will receive the electricity generated. Commercial operation is scheduled to start by Dec. 31, 2016.
“We are delighted to help Wolverine deliver clean wind energy to its member-owners at a very attractive cost,” says Glen Davis, CEO of RES Americas. “Wolverine’s commitment to purchase the Deerfield Wind Energy project’s output will bring investment and jobs to the state and local communities that have supported us through the development cycle.”
“Wolverine is very pleased to be adding competitively priced wind energy to its power supply portfolio for its members,” says Eric Baker, Wolverine’s president/CEO. “This PPA not only positions Wolverine and its members to meet Michigan’s Renewable Portfolio Standard requirement of 10 percent renewable power supply by 2015, it also further diversifies Wolverine’s overall energy portfolio.”
RES Americas (res-americas.com), of Broomfield, CO, has operated for over 18 years, employs over 300 full-time staff, has over 7,000 MW of renewable and energy storage projects, and has built over 534 miles of transmission lines. It is also part of an international renewable energy developer (RES Group) with over 1,200 MW of wind and solar power under construction worldwide.