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Noting that "the increased cost of natural gas on U.S. commodity markets has made wind generation an economical component" of the company's energy generation mix, UtiliCorp United announced that it will purchase the entire output from a 110-megawatt (MW) wind farm being constructed near Montezuma, Kansas, by FPL Energy, LLC, a nonregulated subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc.
Eighty megawatts of the total will be provided to customers in UtiliCorp's regulated service areas — WestPlains Energy in Kansas and Missouri Public Service in western Missouri — with the cost to be incorporated in base rates. UtiliCorp plans to market the remaining 30 MW to regional wholesale electric customers.
UtiliCorp has been selling a premium-priced wind product to its retail customers since 1999 with the power coming from a two-turbine wind power project in northeastern Kansas owned by Western Resources. With the announcement of the new, larger project, the utility has notified its "green pricing" customers that it will discontinue the premium product charge.
News Release - UtiliCorp to Purchase Power Generation From Largest Wind Project Constructed in Kansas - See UtiliCorp's News Releases March 14, 2001
News Article - UtiliCorp to buy power produced at Kansas wind farm
UtiliCorp Contact: George Minter (816) 467-3772
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