XCel Energy alongside Wanzek Construction are expected to start a large wind turbine farm in southeastern Hale County.
“They say it’s a lot of chaos with the construction, but after that, it goes back to normal and it’ll be good revenue for our county,” Ronnie Hopper, a land owner in Hale County, said.
If you’re looking to apply, click HERE.
The following is a press release from XCel:
PLAINVIEW, Texas (May 2, 2018) – Wind energy jobs are coming to Plainview thanks to a Public Utility Commission of Texas decision to approve Xcel Energy’s plans for new wind farms in Texas and New Mexico, one of which will be the planned Hale Wind Project in southeastern Hale County.
Xcel Energy officials will be in Plainview today to discuss the impact of the new wind farm on the local job market at 1 p.m. at the Plainview
Economic Development Corp., 1906 W. Fifth St.The Hale Wind Project has been developed by NextEra Energy Resources, and Xcel Energy will purchase the development and build a 478-megawatt wind facility on the site. Xcel Energy anticipates construction will begin in June, and the wind farm will be in operation in 2019.
Xcel Energy estimates that the construction phase of the project will create close to 300 jobs. Once the facility is operational, approximately 17 to 22 full-time employees will be required to operate and maintain the facility. Wanzek Construction has been selected to build the Hale Wind Project, and will provide information on wind farm construction jobs at a job fair at 2 p.m., following the Xcel Energy presentation, at the offices of the Texas Workforce Commission, 1001 N. Interstate 27, suite 228, in Plainview. Wanzek also will list available jobs at www.wanzek.com/careers.
The Hale Wind Project is part of a larger plan to add 1,230 megawatts of wind energy to serve Xcel Energy customers in Texas and New Mexico. In addition to the 478-megawatt Hale Wind Project, Xcel Energy will build and own a 522-megawatt wind energy facility called the Sagamore Wind Project near Portales, N.M. Xcel Energy also has gained approval to purchase 230 megawatts of wind energy from NextEra Energy Resources from two wind facilities planned for Cochran and Crosby counties in Texas.
Xcel Energy estimates the new wind resources will save hundreds of millions of dollars in energy costs over 30 years, a savings that will be passed directly on to Xcel Energy customers in the form of lower monthly fuel charges,
About Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com.
