TUNICA – The ribbon was snipped on the first utility-scale windfarm in Mississippi with the tallest turbine East of the Mississippi River on Tuesday in Dundee.
Officially called the Delta Windfarm, the 41 windmills in this phase of development, makes this the flagship project of AES, an American utility and power generation company.
“This pioneering project provides clean, reliable energy to Amazon to power its facilities and operations in the region while reducing carbon emissions,” said Woody Rubin, chief development officer for AES’ US. “The project also provides an important economic infusion to local communities by supporting more than 300 jobs during peak construction and by generating tens of millions of dollars in new tax revenue to support local schools, infrastructure and services in Tunica County over the life of the project.”
Terrance Unrein, Sr. Development Director for the project, said this was a tough build with engineering challenges but, with the help of local individuals and businesses, it finished on schedule.
“We have discovered the people of the Mississippi Delta to be incredibly polite and helpful,” said Unrein. “They came to understand that ag and wind energy production can co-exist. This will be a visual reminder that the Delta can embrace the future while sustaining their connection to the land.”
Construction of the 184 MW Delta Wind project began in 2023 and the facility became operational in April 2024. The Delta Wind Project features 41 Vestas wind turbines that rise to a total tip height of 692 feet and produce enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of 80,000 Mississippi homes.
The blades, pylons and power generation motors were shipped via rail to a marshalling yard in Clarksdale. The components were then trucked to the jobsite along Highway 61 where they were put together by massive cranes.
“The Delta Wind project is a key part of our efforts to build a sustainable economy on the Mississippi Delta that works for everyone,” said Dr. Billy Willis, Administrator for Tunica County. “Change is often difficult but we’re making history here with the Delta Wind project and we believe this project can be a catalyst for accelerated renewable energy and economic development throughout the South.”
Originated and initially developed by Steelhead Americas, Vestas' North American development arm, then acquired by AES, the Delta Wind project is located on 14,000 acres of privately owned farmland in Tunica County. The project was carefully designed in collaboration with local landowners to be a “dual-use” project to ensure current agricultural land uses – the growing of rice, soybeans, corn and wheat – continue beneath the turbines.
Many of the windmills are located on third generation farmer Abbott Myers, of Dundee, in Tunica County, who said he and his son began looking for a way to diversify their 7,000-acre farm about 10-years ago.
“We did our homework and looked for state and national people to help us figure this out,” Myers. “Then we began looking for the company who could help us make it happen.”
Several factors helped make the Delta Windfarm a reality. The first was its closeness to electric transmission lines and substations. The second was the decision by Amazon to buy that electricity to light, cool and run the machinery at its massive order fulfillment center facility in Hernando
Charles Finkley, director of Tunica County Economic Development, said this was a community project that really took off about seven years ago when movers and shakers in Tunica County got involved.
“This didn’t happen over-night and there were a lot of obstacles, paperwork and meetings,” said Finkley. “It has been an honor to serve alongside the people who have made it happen.”
AES owns and operates power plants, which it uses to generate and sell electricity to end users and intermediaries like utilities and industrial facilities. AES is headquartered in Arlington, Va., and is one of the world's leading power companies, generating and distributing electric power in 15 countries and employing 10,500 people worldwide.
The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) is a Fortune 500 global energy company. For more information about AES, visit www.aes.com.
