Scout Clean Energy to fund Texas wind farm

Colorado-based Scout Clean Energy recently completed funding a Texas wind farm in Crockett County, TX. Scout Clean Energy completed construction and received tax equity funds for the 300MW Ranchero Wind Farm. Construction began at the beginning of this year.

“Ranchero is our first greenfield project developed from inception through construction and operations since our launch as an owner-operator,” said founder and CEO Michael Rucker. “Reaching commercial operations at Ranchero brings Scout’s owned portfolio of wind energy generation in operation and under construction to over 800MW.”

Scout Clean Energy is one of the country’s leading renewable energy developers. The company claims a collection of more than 3,000 wind, solar and energy storage projects in 10 states. Scout Clean Energy is a portfolio company of Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners.

Scout Clean Energy focuses on providing renewable energy and, according to the website, “brings decades of renewable wind and solar energy experience, specializing in leasing, permitting, interconnection, power marketing, finance and construction.” The company also recently announced the construction of a 180MW Heart of Texas wind farm in McCullough County, TX.

“We are very excited to achieve this important milestone for Scout,” Rucker said. “Ranchero will provide clean renewable energy for Texas industry and thousands of homes, as well as up to 10 permanent jobs during operations.”

Renewable Energy Systems (RES) was charged with constructing the project through a contract with Scout Clean Energy. Construction of the wind farm created 200 jobs for Texas locals.

The EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalency Calculator estimates Ranchero will mitigate more than 900,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. Crockett County predicts the project will generate $57 million in tax revenue, which will benefit the county, the local hospital and school district.

“This is a testament to the great work our Scout team has done with our partners and the local community to get to this point,” Rucker stated.

Texas leads the U.S. in energy generated by wind. In August alone, Texas produced almost 33 percent of the nation’s wind energy. That number is more than triple the amount produced by the next state, Oklahoma.

With bleak predictions emerging in light of the current climate crisis, residential and corporate energy consumers are turning to renewable forms of energy. The Ranchero Wind Farm reflects a growing movement towards energy generated by wind, and this is especially apparent in the Lone Star State.

Caitlin Ritchie is a writer within the energy and power industry. Born in Georgia, she attended the University of Georgia before earning her master’s in English at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Image/Shutterstock