Capricorn Ridge Wind Farm
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Wind energy |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Texas , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, Spain |
| Products | Electricity |
| Owner | NextEra Energy Resources (majority), Sullivan Trillian Fund Private Equity (partial) |
The Capricorn Ridge Wind Farm is located across Sterling and Coke counties in Texas. This 662.5 MW installation consists of 342 GE 1.5 MW wind turbine units alongside 65 Siemens turbines rated at 2.3 MW each, collectively producing sufficient power to supply more than 220,000 residences. Since its initial commissioning in 2007, the combined four phases of the project have incorporated over 400 turbines. Ownership and operation are managed by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, recognized as the largest wind energy producer in the United States, with additional involvement in methane gas, oil, solar, and nuclear sectors. NextEra’s operations extend throughout the U.S., Canada, and Spain. The facility also features partial ownership by San Antonio-based Sullivan Trillian Fund Private Equity, with Energy Market- ERCOT serving as the designated electricity purchaser.
Facility details
The first phase of Capricorn Ridge commenced commercial operations in 2007, followed by a second phase in 2008 that expanded capacity from an initial 364 MW to 506.5 MW during the early development stages. The project’s objective is to lessen Texas’s dependence on fossil fuels by providing renewable wind-generated electricity while fostering economic growth locally through employment opportunities and land lease agreements that do not interfere with farming activities. Positioned within one of Texas’ Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ), the wind farm benefits from abundant wind resources characteristic of West Texas and the Texas Panhandle regions, enabling efficient transmission of renewable energy to populous areas in eastern Texas via newly established transmission lines.
Texas ranks among the leading states nationwide for wind turbine installations, alongside Kansas and North Dakota. Capricorn Ridge delivers clean energy to roughly 220,000 homes and annually avoids over 952,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions—comparable to removing approximately 186,000 vehicles from circulation—based on standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Notably, it was the first wind project in the United States to market carbon offsets certified under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), consistent with the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism.
During 2010–2011, Capricorn Ridge was recognized as one of the largest wind farms in the country with its 662.5 MW capacity, contributing significantly to Texas’s status as the state with over 10,000 MW of installed wind power capacity. On February 27, 2012, GE Energy Financial Services and Lestis Private Capital Group partnered with JPMorgan Chase to invest $225 million into the facility.
Sponsored by Sustainable Travel International as part of an emissions reduction effort, revenues from carbon offset sales help support Capricorn Ridge’s ongoing operational needs and sustainability initiatives.
Electricity production
| Year | Total Annual MW·h |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 1,460,355 |
| 2009 | 1,155,420 |
| 2010 | 1,740,178 |
| 2011 | 2,039,176 |
| 2012 | 2,016,999 |
| 2013 | 1,983,817 |
| 2014 | 2,066,584 |
| 2015 | 1,659,524 |
| 2016 | 1,829,154 |
| 2017 | 1,821,192 |
| 2018 | 2,183,532 |
| Average Template:Subscript : | 1,926,684 |
See also
- Compilation of onshore wind energy facilities
- Wind energy development in the United States
- Wind energy projects in Texas