By Gitte Laasby, Post-Tribune staff writer
The first phase of BP's Fowler Ridge Wind Farm in Benton County is now fully operational, BP announced Wednesday.
That means 222 windmills are spinning on the wind farm 90 miles north of Indianapolis. More could be added in the future, BP said.
The current windmills generate a combined 400 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 120,000 homes, according to BP.
"The commercial operation of the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm marks an important step for BP in helping Indiana increase its role as a provider of energy to support growing state and national demands," said John Graham, president of BP Wind Energy.
"This wind farm will deliver more than 1 billion kilowatt hours of clean, renewable electricity every year and brings new revenue streams to rural communities without impact on traditional farming and grazing practices."
The carbon-free energy comes from 182 Vestas turbines with a hub height of 262 feet and a rotor diameter of 269 feet, and from 40 Clipper turbines of the same height, but a rotor diameter of 314 feet.
The electricity is sold to Dominion Energy Marketing, Indiana Michigan Power and Appalachian Power under long-term contracts.
Construction on phase one of the wind farm began in early 2008.
A total of 850 workers were employed at the peak of construction.
Thirty-six full-time workers are employed to monitor and maintain the wind farm.
BP Wind Energy and Dominion are partners on about 300 megawatts.
The companies said they could expand the facility to 750 megawatts in the future.