BP expands presence in U.S. wind market

• Tweet

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- British energy company BP said it was investing more than $1 billion into two wind farms in the United States that should go online by the end of the year.

BP's wind energy division said it planned to expand its relationship with Sempra U.S. Gas & Power by developing wind farms in Pennsylvania and Kansas. The Mehoopany wind farm in Pennsylvania should generate as much as 141 megawatts of power, while the Flat Ridge 2 wind farm in Kansas should produce 419 MW of renewable power.

The plans represent investments worth more than $1 billion, the British energy company said.

"As new members of the community where the Mehoopany and Flat Ridge 2 wind farms are to be built, we will strive to further enhance our proven track record in construction safety and on-going operational excellence," said John Graham, president and chief executive officer of BP's wind division, in a statement.

BP will serve as the operator of both wind farms when they start commercial operations later this year.

Sempra added that it wants to more than double its portfolio in the wind and solar markets during the next 12 months.