New York-based Macquarie Infrastructure Co. (MIC) says it has bought a noncontrolling interest in the Idaho Wind Partners 1 project, a 183 MW portfolio of 11 wind farms located near Twin Falls, Idaho.
MIC did not specify how big its interest is, but the company said it has invested $11.5 million, excluding transaction-related costs. Other project owners include Atlantic Power, GE Energy Financial Services and Ruby Renewable Resources.
Idaho Wind Partners 1 utilizes 122 GE 1.5 MW turbines and commenced commercial operations in late 2010 and early 2011. Idaho Power Co. is buying the project's output under a power purchase agreement.
MIC says this transaction increases the aggregate power generating capacity of its Contracted Power and Energy (CP&E) segment to approximately 96 MW. The CP&E portfolio consists of investments in five solar facilities and two wind power projects, including the Idaho project.
"We continue to find good, accretive opportunities to deploy capital in our CP&E segment," says James Hooke, CEO of MIC. "We're pleased to have acquired this stake in Idaho Wind Partners 1 and with it the opportunity to explore increasing our investment in the project over time."
