RWE, the third largest renewable energy company in the U.S., has officially confirmed the news relaying that it has 4 gigawatts (3,875 megawatts) of onshore wind, solar and battery energy storage projects under construction.
According to certain reports, these projects include Baron Winds II, which is located in Steuben County, New York. More on that would reveal how this happens to be a 117 MW wind farm, designed to build upon phase one of Baron Winds, a project boasting current installed capacity of 122 MW.
The two projects, in conjunction, will provide power to over 50,000 homes. Not just that, Baron Winds II would further contribute to its surrounding by creating an estimated 300 jobs during construction, and in case that wasn’t enough, it will also provide $24 million in tax revenue support for local schools and communities over its lifetime.
The next project in line would be WR Graceland. This one happens to be a 150 MW solar farm in Shelby County, Tennessee. Once operational, the project is expected to power more than 24,000 homes. Markedly enough, Graceland Solar supported approximately 300 jobs at its peak construction. To top that, the project will also employ multiple permanent positions onsite and generate over $20 million in community’s economy, through tax revenue, over its lifespan.
Alongside financial incentives, WR Graceland will also support education across the local community. A couple of examples of its efforts in this regard include sponsoring a Junior Achievement event in May 2024 and teaming up with Memphis-Shelby County Schools to spark student interest in clean energy careers.
The third project from RWE is understood to be named Ventasso. Ventasso is essentially a 50 MW (200 MWh) battery storage project located near San Diego, California. Going by the available details, this initiative is set to use 33 outdoor battery containers, each chipping in to enhance regional grid stability.
Hence, once completed, this project should be able to bolster electric reliability during periods of peak energy demand. Among other things, we ought to mention how Ventasso supported an estimated 100 jobs during construction, packaging that with more than $300,000 worth of benefits to local schools.
Rounding up highlights would be the Accrington Stanley project, where a 125 MW solar facility in Maricopa County, Arizona, will power around 27,000 homes annually. Already, the facility has created an estimated 200 employment opportunities during construction, and moving forward, it will provide $10 million in property tax revenue over its lifetime.
Founded back in 1898. RWE’s rise up the ranks stems from its track-record of helping meet the nation’s growing energy needs. The company’s excellence and scale in what it does can also be understood once you consider it is currently the third largest renewable energy company across US,
Not just that, employing more than 2,000 employees, the company is also steadily increasing its already 10 gigawatts of operating wind, solar and battery projects.
“As demand for electricity grows, RWE is prepared to meet the moment through our investments to expand our U.S. generating portfolio and bring more homegrown energy to market. The nearly 4 GW of projects currently under construction will add cost-competitive and reliable electricity supply in regions across the country furthering America’s energy independence as part of an all-of-the-above strategy, while simultaneously delivering substantial benefits to local and rural communities through job creation, tax revenues and local investments,” said Andrew Flanagan, CEO of RWE Clean Energy.
