Westar Energy and BP Alternative Energy have begun construction of the Flat Ridge Wind Farm site in Barber County, Kansas. The project commencement was celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony on June 24, 2008.

The Flat Ridge Wind Farm will use 40 Clipper 2.5 MW C-96 wind turbine generators to generate 100 MW of renewable energy. RMT WindConnect will be performing the transmission line work for this project, transferring the wind farm's electricity to the power grid.

The work will consist of one 34.5 kV to 138 kV project substation, one 138 kV five breaker radial bus interconnection switching substation, and a 4.6 mile, 138 kV transmission line connecting the wind farm to the interconnection substation.

"Our goal is to deliver this project safely and ahead of schedule," said Pete Sharkey, Project Manager for RMT WindConnect.

"We are proud to be a part of Westar Energy's and BP Alternative Energy's efforts to invest in wind energy as a way of making the state of Kansas more energy independent."

When complete, the Flat Ridge Wind Farm will provide enough electricity to power more than 30,000 homes and offset the equivalent of nearly 240,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere annually.

Westar Energy will own half of the wind farm and purchase energy from the remaining half. The Flat Ridge Wind Farm is expected to be in commercial operation by the end of 2008.