The South Texas Electric Cooperative (STEC) has concluded an agreement with Iberdrola Renewables, Inc. for 50 MW of clean renewable energy from the Peñascal project, the first wind project to be built on the Texas coast.   This agreement will make STEC’s members the latest electric cooperatives in Texas to integrate clean renewable energy into their generation mix. 

“We are pleased to have partnered with Iberdrola Renewables to provide a supply of clean renewable energy at a stable price for our members”, said STEC General Manager, Michael Packard.

When the first phase of the Peñascal Wind Project comes on line in December 2008, STEC and its members will have reached a major milestone in their goal of adding emission free generation to its balanced portfolio of generation assets. 

STEC has entered into a 15-year agreement with Iberdrola Renewables, Inc., the wind farm's developer and operator, to purchase electricity created at the Peñascal Wind Project.  "We are pleased to have partnered with Iberdrola Renewables, one of the country’s most highly respected wind energy project developers," Packard said. 

The agreement with Iberdrola Renewables entitles STEC and its members to the output associated with approximately 21 of the project's 2.4-MW turbines.  The Peñascal Project is located at a remote site approximately one mile inland from the coastline on the Kenedy Ranch just south of Baffin Bay. 

"The energy from Peñascal will be enough to power 11,500 homes," Packard said. "One key factor that entered into the decision to buy electricity from Peñascal is that coastal winds blow on hot summer afternoons when electrical demand in South Texas is highest.  Additionally, the physical proximity of the Peñascal project to our members’ loads means transmission congestion won’t be much of a factor."  

South Texas Electric Cooperative was formed in 1944 to provide wholesale electric power to member cooperatives. Presently the South Texas Electric Cooperative serves eight distribution cooperatives; Karnes, Wharton County, Victoria, Jackson, San Patricio, Nueces, Magic Valley and Medina electric cooperatives. These cooperatives provide service to over 170,000 members in 65 South Texas counties.

IBERDROLA RENEWABLES is currently the world's leading provider of wind power with more than 8,000 MW of wind power in operation globally now. Between 2008-2012, the company will invest €18.8 billion globally to achieve installed capacity of close to 18,000 MW and production of more than 42,000 GWh. IBERDROLA RENEWABLES will invest $8 billion in the U.S. between 2008 and 2012 and plans to install 1,000 MW of wind power each year in the US. www.iberdrolarenewables.us