BP opens giant Kansas wind farm

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TOPEKA, Kan., Jan. 7 (UPI) -- The opening of the Flat Ridge 2 wind farm in Kansas represents the largest single-build facility of its kind in the United States, BP said.

"The state of Kansas has created a predictable, stable environment in which companies can invest and do business," John Graham, president and chief executive officer at BP Wind Energy, said in a statement.

"The Flat Ridge 2 wind farm is a testament to the success of this strategy and is helping the state to be a net exporter of energy."

BP's wind energy division and utility company Sempra U.S. Gas and Power announced the launch of commercial operations at the 470 megawatt Flat Ridge 2 facility, spread out over four counties in Kansas. The site features 294 wind turbines that can generate the annual energy demands of more than 140,000 households.

Electricity generated from the Flat Ridge 2 project is sold to the Associated Electric Cooperative, Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation and Southwestern Electric Power Company under the terms of a long-term contract.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration said wind energy last year outpaced natural gas and coal in terms of new power generation in the country.