Quebec-based Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. is scheduled to complete its $534 million Boswell Springs wind farm project in Albany County before the end of the year, a spokeswoman for the Canadian company confirmed Wednesday.
The 100-turbine project, which spans across 21,500 acres of private land, is well underway with all foundations poured and the main generation tie-in completed, the spokeswoman said.
The project will connect with the Berkshire Hathaway-backed PacifiCorp electrical grid at the Freezeout substation in Carbon County, which is located about 35 miles west of Boswell Springs, via the Last Mile transmission system.
Construction of the Last Mile project began in January 2023 with energization scheduled to begin this year when Boswell Springs becomes operational.
Among Innergex’s 87 renewable energy facilities, Boswell Springs is the company’s second largest wind farm in terms of installed capacity, behind the company’s 350-megawatt operating Foard City facility in Texas.
Boswell Springs is located roughly 14 miles northeast of the town of Rock River and about 20 miles east of Medicine Bow, in Albany County.
Once operational, the 330-megawatt facility will create 10 full-time jobs.
Peak workforce at the wind farm project reached 160 temporary people in 2023, and is expected to grow to 260 people this summer, the spokeswoman said.
Tax Credits
As a renewable energy project, Boswell Springs is eligible for up to 120% of production tax credits through the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022. The credit is based on the amount of electricity generated on a per kilowatt-hour basis.
This means that Innergex is eligible for 100% of the production tax credit, plus the domestic content and energy community credits, which are 10% each, which itself is only a fraction of the project’s total cost, the spokeswoman said.
In addition to construction expenditures and employment, the Boswell Springs wind project is expected to contribute roughly $65 million in property taxes, $34 million in wind generation taxes, and at least $20 million in sales and use taxes during the 30-year lifespan of the project.
Sales tax is typically charged at the point of sale on goods and services, while use tax is usually charged on items that were bought outside of the state but are used within the state.
The sales and use taxes will benefit local schools, health districts, conservation districts and other county facilities and tax districts, the spokeswoman said.
Innergex also plans to donate a hydraulic rescue tool — called the Jaws of Life — to the Rock River Volunteer Fire Department on April 16 to demonstrate its commitment to the community.
Pat Maio can be reached at pat@cowboystatedaily.com.
