HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- A wind farm constructed on a former surface coal mine in Pennsylvania could supply energy to as many as 16,000 homes, said German utility E.ON.
E.ON said the United States is one of the best markets for wind energy due to open land and excellent weather conditions.
The company announced that it expanded its wind energy portfolio by opening its Stony Creek wind farm in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania advocated the reclamation of abandoned mines like Stony Creek through legislation passed in the 1970s.
The wind farm uses 35 General Electric wind turbines, a market leader. Expected capacity is estimated at 53 MW, which is enough to power 16,000 homes with their yearly electricity needs.
The German utility said it plans to invest nearly $12 billion in its global renewable energy portfolio during the next two years.
The company has five wind farms in the United States with a combined capacity of 1,700 megawatts of power. It plans to expand its global wind capacity to 15 gigawatts, with half of that planned for the United States.
