Largest Kansas wind farm set to go online

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KANSAS CITY, Mo., Dec. 28 (UPI) -- The companies building the largest wind farm in Kansas, with 274 wind turbines, say the array is set to begin producing power.

Flat Ridge 2, located on 66,000 acres in south-central Kansas, is jointly owned by BP Wind Energy and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power.

When in full operation with wind farm will produce a total of 438 megawatts, enough electricity to power 160,000 homes, The Kansas City Star reported Thursday.

The giant wind farm was built in Kansas because of its wind resources, ranked the second best in the United States, its owners said.

"Kansas is blessed by very strong winds," said John Graham, the head of BP Wind Energy, a unit of the BP oil and natural-gas conglomerate.

The company, which previously built a 100-megawatt wind farm in Kansas, says it has leased more land in the state for additional wind turbines but those plans are on hold while the issue of a Production Tax Credit set to end at the close of this month is resolved.

"The reality is the industry needs it," Graham said.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and the state's two U.S. senators have expressed support for renewing the credit.