The nation’s largest wind energy project located in western Oklahoma is nearing completion.
The 999-Megawatt Traverse Wind Energy Center is expected to commence operation sometime in April. Sustainable energy company Invenergy secured financing for the project in March of last year — now it's getting ready to flip the switch.
The Traverse project is located in Custer, Blaine and Kingfisher counties. It’s the largest of Invenergy’s three wind energy projects in Oklahoma. The other two — 287-megawatt Maverick Wind Energy Center in Major, Garfield and Kingfisher Counties and the 199-megawatt Sundance Wind Energy Center in Woods and Major Counties — both achieved financial close in December 2020 and went online last year.
Once Traverse begins operation, American Electric Power will assume ownership to serve customers of its subsidiaries Southwestern Electric Power Company and Public Service Company of Oklahoma.
The three projects represent a combined $2 billion capital investment in western and north central Oklahoma, directly investing in the local economy through new tax revenues and lease payments to participating landowners.
The complete projects will generate enough electricity to power 440,000 American homes.
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