Sempra U.S. Gas & Power will continue to develop Auwahi and operate the project once construction is complete. Maui Electric Co. signed a long-term power purchase agreement for the entire output.
Auwahi will also use an 11 MW A123 Systems (NASDAQ: AONE) battery storage unit capable of storing in excess of 4 MWh of electricity.
In January 2012, BP and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power announced an expansion of their strategic relationship by jointly investing more than $1 billion to build 560 MW of wind power, including the 419 MW Flat Ridge 2 in Kansas along with a 51 MW expansion, and the 141 MW Mehoopany project in Pennsylvania. Both projects are expected to be operational by year-end 2012. The companies are also equal partners on the 200 MW Fowler Ridge 2 Wind Farm in Indiana and the 250 MW Cedar Creek 2 Wind Farm in Colorado.