Amazon, the net retailer with a aim of powering its operations with 100% renewable power by 2025, on July 7 introduced a challenge that might be the primary utility-scale wind farm in Mississippi.
The 184.5-MW Delta wind farm, being in-built Tunica County, is Amazon’s sixth renewable power set up in that state, and can be part of 5 photo voltaic farms within the firm’s Mississippi portfolio. The ability will embrace 41 wind generators powered by winds from the Mississippi Delta.
The wind farm is owned and will probably be operated by Virginia-headquartered AES Corp., a world power group identified for its growth and operation of renewable power initiatives. AES in June introduced it had acquired the most important permitted U.S. solar-plus-storage set up, the 2-GW Bellefield challenge in Kern County, California.
AES acquired the Delta challenge from Danish developer Vestas final yr. Vestas had begun constructing the wind farm beneath its North American growth arm Steelhead Americas.
Mississippi Operations
The Delta set up will assist energy Amazon’s operations in Mississippi, which embrace achievement and sortation facilities, supply stations, and a Complete Meals Market location. The corporate on Friday mentioned that when totally operational, its six renewable power services are anticipated to generate greater than 1,850 GWh yearly. Amazon mentioned the Mississippi initiatives are amongst 30 renewable power installations the corporate helps throughout seven states within the southeastern U.S.
“Amazon is dedicated to powering our operations with 100% renewable power, and we need to make sure the native communities the place our clients stay and work are additionally benefiting from the photo voltaic and wind initiatives that we assist,” mentioned Charley Daitch, director of Vitality and Water Technique at Amazon Internet Companies (AWS). “These power initiatives are serving to present clear power to native grids, create jobs, assist native companies and farmers, and increase the agricultural tax base within the Southeast, that are all a part of Amazon’s journey to change into a extra sustainable firm.”
Officers on Friday mentioned the Delta wind farm will probably be a dual-use operation, constructed on 14,000 acres of agricultural land that can proceed for use for farming rice, soybeans, corn, and wheat. AES officers mentioned the corporate is working with landowners “to make sure prioritization and respect for Tunica’s wealthy historical past and farming traditions, making certain farming can proceed with minimal disruption throughout development, and as soon as operational, farming will proceed beneath and across the generators.”
“As a proud new neighbor of Tunica County, this challenge will generate significant financial impression throughout the Delta—all whereas sustaining the present farming operations,” mentioned Kleber Costa, chief business officer of AES Clear Vitality. “That is the primary utility-scale wind facility in Mississippi and wouldn’t have been attainable with out our local people companions and our partnership with Amazon that’s driving this new clear power growth that can carry worth for years to return.”
AES mentioned the challenge is anticipated to carry tens of tens of millions of {dollars} in tax income to native jurisdictions, together with the county and college district. The corporate mentioned the wind farm is anticipated to start operations in 2024, and is projected to create almost 300 jobs in Tunica County throughout peak development.
—Darrell Proctor is a senior affiliate editor for POWER (@POWERmagazine).