Nicaragua's (first) $95 Million (40 MW) Wind Farm to Start in January

[jpak]

http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=323825&CategoryId=23558

MANAGUA -- The first wind farm for producing 40 megawatts of electricity, built at a cost of $95 million in southern Nicaragua, will start operations on Jan. 4, an executive of Amayo, the company that owns the project, announced Saturday.

The local press reported Saturday that 18 of the 19 wind turbines 100 meters (328 feet) tall of the facility are already completely installed in the province of Rivas, 128 kilometers (80 miles) south of Managua, according to Amayo manager Sean Porter.

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Each of these wind turbines produces 2.1 megawatts, Porter said, adding that the 40 megawatts that they will produce together will be connected to the national grid on Jan. 4, and will provide service for 325,000 homes that consume an average of 150 kilowatts per month.

According to Porter, the cost of generating electricity with wind is 8.6 cents of a dollar per kilowatt, while with petroleum derivatives it is 18 cents.

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