BP to build five US windfarms

BP Alternative Energy North America announced on Friday that it expects to begin construction on five wind power generation projects in the US in 2007.

Located at sites in California, Colorado, North Dakota and Texas, the projects are expected to deliver a combined generation capacity of some 550MW.

When complete, the projects will exceed the company's previously announced target to build 450MW by end of 2008.

BP's US wind portfolio includes the opportunity to develop almost 100 projects with a potential total generating capacity of some 15,000MW. These projects are the result of several agreements and acquisitions the company made in 2006.

In July, BP announced a strategic alliance with Clipper Windpower to supply up to 4,250MW of wind turbines over the next five years. Later in the year, BP acquired two US wind development companies; Greenlight Energy and Orion Energy.

As part of this build programme, BP Alternative Energy North America plans to deploy 150MW of Clipper Liberty turbines as part of the supply and joint development agreement it entered into in 2006 with Clipper Windpower.