Duke Energy finances 200MW Wyoming project

UNITED STATES: Duke Energy has secured $231 million in financing for its 200MW Top of the World wind project in Wyoming.

The funds consist of an 18-year term loan of $193 million, and nearly $38 million in letters of credit.

The financing was arranged by Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, along with BBVA, Société Générale and Caja Madrid.

The project, which started operating in October 2010, uses 66 1.5-MW General Electric turbines and 44 2.3-MW Siemens turbines.

 Keith Trent, group executive and president of Duke Energy’s Commercial Businesses said: "We’ve spent more than $1.5 billion to grow our commercial wind power business over the last three years."

North Carolina-based Duke sells all of the renewable energy generated at the site to PacifiCorp under a 20-year power purchase agreement.