FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 26, 2018
Contact:          Raoul Slavin

                        Aspenall Energies (Delaware), LLC

PO Box 8809

Minneapolis MN, 55408

Phone: 612-236-4271

Email: [email protected]

Kimball Wind Reaches Commercial Operation

Aspenall Energies (Delaware), LLC (“Aspenall”) and the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (“MEAN”) are pleased to announce the Kimball Wind Project went into commercial operations on June 29, 2018. 

The new, 30-megawatt wind facility is comprised of twelve, 2.5 megawatt, 116-meter rotor diameter General Electric wind turbines, and is located outside of Kimball, Nebraska. The project is expected to supply enough annual energy to power approximately 11,000 homes.

Kimball Wind replaces a smaller, 10.5-megawatt, first-generation facility developed by MEAN, which was decommissioned in 2017. MEAN has entered into a long-term power purchase agreement with Aspenall’s subsidiary, Kimball Wind, LLC, for the purchase of all of the power produced by the new project. The project will be maintained by Aspenall,GE and local resources.

“We are very excited about the addition of Kimball Wind to our portfolio of community-scale wind energy projects,” said Raoul Slavin, Aspenall’s Managing Director. “These smaller projects are locally-sourced and managed, competitively priced, and bring clean, renewable energy to smaller, regional power providers, while avoiding some of the known negative impacts of larger-scale projects.” 

MEAN explained: “Today’s wind turbines are more efficient than the first generation of turbines constructed in the early 2000s, due in large part to taller towers, longer blade lengths and overall improved technology and reliability. More efficient turbines result in a higher capacity factor, which is the ratio of energy produced over time compared with a project’s maximum nameplate capacity. The new facility is expected to generate over 125,000 MWh annually, nearly six times the amount of energy delivered by the first-generation facility.”  

In addition to delivering energy to the Nebraska electric grid, the Kimball wind facility will also provide tax revenues to the state of Nebraska, Kimball County, and Kimball County Schools.  “As rural communities continue to manage decreasing budgets, projects like the Kimball Wind farm can provide a valuable stream of long-term tax revenue to support school and government services,” said Larry Engstrom, Chairman of the Kimball County Commissioners.  

Early stage development of the project was undertaken by a local developer, Sandhills Energy, from whom Aspenall purchased the project before major construction.New Generation Construction Inc. of Lincoln, Nebraska served as the general contractor. “We are excited to bring our first Nebraska project on line,” said John Brown, Aspenall’s Chief Development Officer, “and look forward to working with other regional developers to build more midsize wind and solar projects.” 

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About Aspenall Energies Delaware, LLC

Aspenall Energies (Delaware), LLC is a Minnesota-based community-scale renewable energy developer, owner, and operator. Aspenall is owned by Treehouse Investments, LLC, a socially responsible investment fund. For more information, please visit www.aspenall.com.

About Municipal Energy Agency Nebraska

Formed in 1981, the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska is the not-for-profit, member-driven wholesale electric supply organization of NMPP Energy, a joint action agency headquartered in Lincoln, NE. MEAN provides wholesale electricity and related services to 69 participants in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska and Wyoming. (www.nmppenergy.org/mean)

About NGC

New Generation Construction Inc. (“NGC”) is a general contracting firm based in Lincoln, Nebraska specializing in commercial and industrial construction. NGC serves Lincoln, Omaha and other markets throughout the Midwest and Western US regions. 

About GE Renewable Energy

GE is one of the world’s most experienced renewable power equipment manufacturers and the largest US-based wind energy manufacturer.

About Sandhills Energy

Sandhills Energy is an experienced renewable energy project developer committed to the financial and environmental vitality of rural America.Sandhills Energy unites local knowledge and lifelong relationships with proven industry acumen and experience.