Westar Energy has acquired development rights for a wind farm in Kansas from Infinity Power. The new wind farm (for now called Ironwood) project, is permitted to have up to 500 MW of capacity installed . Westar Energy aims to develop 200 MW in the first development phase, to be completed by late 2011 or 2012, which depends on transmission construction in western Kansas.

Westar Energy issued a request for proposals for up to 500 MW of renewable energy capacity, and from the 35 offered proposals, the Ironwood project was chosen as the one that best fits the company's plans for expansion. As part of the agreement with Westar, Infinity Power is to provide future development services to further prepare the site for construction of the wind farm.

The state of Kansas now requires that power utilities have at least 10% of their total power generating capacity coming from renewable energy sources. This is to be pushed higher to 20% by 2020. This means Westar Energy needs to increase its renewable energy portfolio in that state by at least 160 MW by 2011, and by another 600 MW by 2020, it it's to reach the required ratios.

[source: Westar Energy]