Terra-Gen, one of the largest independent, integrated renewable energy producers in the US, jointly owned by Masdar and Igneo Infrastructure Partners, announced the commissioning of the Monte Cristo I Windpower Project.
The 238.5-megawatt
facility, located in Hidalgo County, Texas, will generate more than 850
gigawatt-hours of clean electricity annually, equivalent to powering
approximately 81,000 homes a year.
The facility’s
capacity has been contracted to two corporate buyers through long-term power
purchase agreements.
A ribbon-cutting
ceremony at the site marked the milestone, bringing together companies’
representatives, local officials, and members of the community.
“It is an honour to
celebrate the hard work and dedication of the hundreds of men and women who
made the commissioning of the Monte Cristo wind project possible,” said John
O’Connor, Chief Financial Officer for Terra-Gen. “This project underscores
Terra-Gen’s commitment to expanding access to renewable energy across Texas and
the US, strengthening regional grid reliability with clean, sustainable
power, and investing in our local communities.”
Construction of the
Monte Cristo I Windpower project created approximately 280 jobs at the peak of
activities, with more than 490,000 hours worked without a lost-time incident
during construction and transition to operations.
In addition, the
project also enhanced the community through infrastructure upgrades, including
improvements to more than 11 miles of Texas Department of Transportation roads
and 25 miles of county roads.
Beyond the
construction phase, the facility will continue to deliver significant long-term
economic benefits to the region, including more than $100 million in property
taxes, landowner payments and other local contributions during the project’s
life.
“We welcome
Terra-Gen’s continued investment in Hidalgo County,” said Richard F. Cortez,
Hidalgo County Judge. “This development represents more than clean, renewable
energy, it’s an investment in our people and our long-term economic growth. By
creating high-quality jobs, generating millions in local spending, and
supporting essential public services, projects like this help us develop and
attract human capital while positioning Hidalgo County as a leader in
sustainable progress.”
Monte Cristo I
Windpower is Terra-Gen’s second wind project in Texas. Together with the Texas
Big Spring wind facility, the company’s clean energy generation in the state
now totals 273 MW. Phase 2 of Monte Cristo Windpower has also been permitted
and development activities for the project are ongoing.
Monte Cristo I Windpower is the first project to be completed since Masdar acquired a 50 percent stake in Terra-Gen in 2024. This acquisition underscores Masdar’s long-term commitment to investing in and supporting the U.S. energy transformation, and the strategic importance of the market in the company’s broader global portfolio. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service