SPI Solar (SPI) and KDC Solar agreed to jointly develop and own the Mountain Creek solar project in Vernon, New Jersey. The agreement, which also entails project administration requirements, enables both companies to move forward in completing the project, which calls for the design, development and build-out of multiple solar energy facilities at the Mountain Creek Resort. In addition, both companies have also agreed to execute a project administration agreement covering the performance of services for the Mountain Creek project by SPI.
Manitoba Hydro signed two major power sales with Wisconsin Public Service (WPS), a subsidiary of Integrys Energy Group. The first sale, running from 2016-2021, is for 108 MW of firm power. The second sale - which will use electricity produced by the proposed new Conawapa Generating Station on the Nelson River - is for 308 MW of firm power for up to 10-years. The 308-MW sale is scheduled to start in 2027. A previously announced 100-MW sale to WPS is scheduled to run from 2021 to 2026, bridging the gap between these two new deals.
Alterra Power completed the acquisition of the Shannon wind project, a 202-MW wind farm in Clay County, Texas, from Horn Wind. Alterra also placed a $4.5 million cash deposit with Oncor, the project's transmission service provider, which will now begin the design and equipment procurement for the project's interconnection substation. In December 2013, Alterra completed certain construction activities to ensure the Shannon project will qualify for the U.S.
Calpine completed the acquisition of a natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant located in Guadalupe County, 30 miles northeast of San Antonio, Texas, in ERCOT's south zone. Calpine purchased the plant, which has a generating capacity of 1,050 MW, from MinnTex Power Holdings (a portfolio company owned by a private investment fund managed by Wayzata Investment Partners) for $625 million plus adjustments.
NTE Energy plans to develop, own and operate the Kings Mountain Energy Center, located in Cleveland County, NC. The new energy center will utilize a M501GAC advanced combustion turbine and a Mitsubishi steam turbine in combined cycle configuration. The power generation equipment will be supplied by Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas (MHPSA). NTE Energy has begun the permitting process and submitted its transmission interconnection request to Duke Energy Carolinas. The project is planned to begin construction in 2015 and become fully operational in 2018.
Siemens Energy was awarded an order by Minnesota Power for 64 units of the company's latest 3-MW D3 platform wind turbines to be installed at the Bison Wind Energy Center near New Salem, North Dakota. The wind turbines feature a 113-meter rotor and 92.5-meter hub height and thus increased rating of 3.2 MW. Installation of the turbines is scheduled to begin in mid-June 2014, and commercial operation is slated for December 2014.