Benton County Wind Farm Producing Power for Duke Energy

Orion Energy Group’s Benton County Wind Farm is now supplying power to Duke Energy.

Orion Energy Group has declared part of the wind farm that will supply Duke Energy – about 54 wind turbines – commercial. An additional 33 turbines, some supplying Duke Energy and some supplying Vectren Energy Delivery, will be commercial soon.

In August 2006 Duke Energy finalized an agreement to purchase up to approximately 100 megawatts of electricity for 20 years from the wind farm. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved the agreement later that year.

“Clean, carbon-free wind-generated energy is a good addition to our power sources,” said Duke Energy Indiana President Jim Stanley. “The agreement was the first significant, long-term purchase of wind power in Indiana. It’s also a boost to the local economy.”

Duke Energy’s Indiana operations provide approximately 7,300 megawatts of safe, reliable and competitively priced electricity to more than 774,000 electric customers, making it the state’s largest electric supplier.