Enel, through its U.S. renewable energy company Enel Green Power North America has begun construction of the wind farm which has an installed capacity of around 300 MW. This will be EGPNA’s sixth wind farm in the state, where it’s the largest wind capacity operator with approximately 1,400 MW of operational wind energy. Lenexa-based Tradewind Energy Inc. sold the wind project to EGPNA. Enel will be Diamond Vista's long-term owner and operator.
With an estimated cost of $400 million, Diamond Vista is located approximately 25 miles southeast of Salina, Kansas, on close to 55,000 acres of land.
"We are pleased to partner with the Diamond Vista Wind Project to play a leading role in reducing fossil fuel usage to power the U.S. electrical grid," said Rob Zimmerman, Director of Sustainability at Kohler Co. "This project is one component of a comprehensive strategy Kohler has created to achieve its overall goal of being 'Net Zero' in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.”
The project is expected to begin operations by the end of 2018. Kohler's share of the expected generated power from Diamond Vista is anticipated to be enough to power nearly 40,000 homes.
When the project comes online, Kohler's share will be sold to the wholesale electric market, with the company receiving renewable energy credits (RECs) equaling the company's total annual electricity needs for its 85 manufacturing facilities, offices and warehouses in the U.S. and Canada.
