When the 81 wind turbines at Chapman Ranch Wind Farm begin generating electricity for the state’s power grid this month, some of that current could be used in homes right here in the Coastal Bend.
“Once those electrons are put on the grid, it’s difficult to trace where they end up,” said Rob Jozwiak, manager of the southern region in the power operations group at Enbridge Energy, the company that owns the turbines. “In general, the system is designed to minimize transmission distance. Inherently, those electrons will be utilized as close as possible.”
All 81 turbines are up and running, Jozwiak said, and should be fully operational by early to mid-September. More than three years in the making, the project is in the final commissioning phase on 16 square miles of land south of Corpus Christi.
Coastal winds are expected to generate 250 megawatts of power a year, enough electricity to power 62,000 homes every day. The consistency of those winds off the Gulf of Mexico is exactly what brought Enbridge to the area in the first place.
“The wind near Corpus Christi is a very steady fuel source for the wind turbines,” Jozwiak said. “It’s different from the Texas Panhandle. We are excited to be in a different region, in a different community.”
Chapman Ranch, which began as an Apex Energy project, is one of three now under the auspices of Enbridge. This is the first on the Gulf Coast.
“Projects such as Chapman are an integral support to a low-carbon future,” Jozwiak said. “Since 2002, Enbridge has invested $7.4 billion to renewable power projects. We are committed to low-carbon energy.”
The $400 million project is expected to generate more than electricity. Taxes paid into local coffers are estimated at $13.3 million for Nueces County and $41.6 for London Independent School District over a 25-year lifespan.
Currently, 12 employees work full time to maintain the wind farm, which is located at the intersection of Texas 55 and Texas 70, about seven miles south of Corpus Christi International Airport.