WICHITA, Kan. (AP) The largest wind farm ever built in Kansas is now in full commercial operation.
BP Wind Energy and Sempra U.S. Gas Power said Thursday the $800 million Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm generates 470 megawatts of electricity.
Flat Ridge 2 is spread over a 66,000-acre site that spans parts of Harper, Barber, Kingman and Sumner counties in south-central Kansas.
The companies say the farm uses 294 turbines each with the capacity to produce 1.6 megawatts, generating enough electricity to power more than 140,000 average American homes.
Power generated from the facility will be exported to Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana.
The project created more than 500 jobs at the peak of construction. About 30 permanent jobs have been created to monitor and maintain it now that it is online.
