CMS Energy purchases majority stake in 525MW wind project in USA

CMS Energy has purchased a majority stake in Aviator Wind, a 525 megawatt wind energy project in Texas that will support efforts by Facebook and McDonald's to achieve their clean energy goals. The project will start operations by fall 2020 in Coke County, about 250 miles southwest of Dallas.

Aviator Wind will be operated by CMS Enterprises, a subsidiary of CMS Energy that develops, owns, and operates utility-scale renewable energy facilities, including wind and solar.

Richard Mukhtar, president of CMS Enterprises, said: "Through Aviator Wind, we're proud to continue the drive toward sustainable energy and help two of the nation's largest organizations meet their aggressive renewables goals. Facebook and McDonald's join a growing roster of CMS Enterprises customers that have access to the full spectrum of energy products and services that we provide under one roof."

With the Aviator Wind acquisition, CMS Enterprises now owns and operates 11 independent power plants and more than 1,800 megawatts of generation nationwide.

Aviator Wind will help Facebook – the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy in the U.S. in 2019 – reach its goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 75% and support 100% of its operations with renewable energy this year.

Through the project, McDonald's will be able to reduce emissions related to its restaurants and offices by 36% in 2030.

CMS Enterprises purchased the project's majority stake from funds managed by Ares Management Corporation's Infrastructure and Power strategy, which constructed and managed the project. Kansai Electric Power is the project's other major partner.