Duke Energy is continuously enhancing its renewable power portfolio. And now it made another announcement of building and operating a 200-MW wind energy project near Casper, Wyo. With this Top of the World Windpower Project the company will make its 9th wind farm in U.S. which will be the 4th in Wyoming.

Duke Energy will use about 17,000 acres in Converse County. It will consist of private and public land taken under long-term lease. The project will hopefully start its operation commercially by the end of 2010. It will be able to produce electricity used by 50,000 to 60,000 homes annually.

PacificCorp will purchase the whole electric energy produced by this Top of the Word project and other associated renewable energy credits (RECs). This power purchase agreement will be for 20 years. The company is already operating in Wyoming as Rocky Mountain Power. PacificCorp earlier signed a contract to purchase all of the generated power and RECs from Duke Energy’s 99-MW Campbell Hill Wind-power project; it will start by the end of this year.

Duke Energy will begin construction of the Top of the World project in last quarter of 2009 or early 2010, after receiving all the necessary permits. Adhering to the Government David Greudentha’s executive order about the conservation of greater sage grouse, the company will construct Top of the World away from the sensitive core areas. Duke Energy will install more than 66 G.E. turbines. Each will have the capacity to produce 1.5-megawatt at the Top of the World.

Duke Energy – Company Profile

Duke Energy is the leading and one of the largest electric power companies in the U.S. It is generating and supplying electricity to about 4-million U.S. customers living in its regulated jurisdictions. Duke Energy’ plants can produce about 35,000-MW of electricity in the Midwest and the Carolinas. It also renders gas distribution services in Ohio and Kentucky.

Moreover, Duke Energy generates more than 4,000-MW of electricity in Latin America. Besides contributing to energy sector, the company has also emerged as a joint-venture partner in a U.S. real estate company.