NRG, BP partner on wind farm

Princeton, N.J.-based NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG) said today it teamed up with Houston's BP Alternative Energy North America for a 150 megawatt Texas wind farm.

NRG said it's Padoma Wind Power unit formed a joint venture with BP Alternative Energy, a subsidiary of London's BP (NYSE: BP), to build the first phase of the Sherbino Wind Farm in Pecos County, Texas.

The farm will consist of 50 Vestas 3 MW turbines, according to NRG.

"Zero-fuel, zero-emission wind power is a critical component of repowering NRG's efforts to build a diverse fuel generation portfolio that reduces NRG's carbon intensity," said David Crane, president and CEO of NRG Energy.

NRG said the wind farm would be located on more than 9,000 acres on a mesa approximately 3,000 feet above sea level.

The company said the land is primarily used for low density sheep and cattle grazing with some oil and gas development.

Padoma is managing the construction, which NRG said started in late 2007, with Mortenson Construction as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor.

NRG said BP would handle operations and dispatch at the wind farm when the project begins commercial operation, scheduled for the second half of 2008.