Wind Farms

Great Southwestern began constructing substations, transmission lines and collector systems for wind farms in 2003. Since that time we have worked on more than a dozen wind farm projects and have learned a significant amount about their special needs.

Great Southwestern offers the expertise required to engineer, procure, and construct substations, transmission lines and both overhead and underground collector systems. GSWC creates a team environment with both the customer and our engineering partner to ensure the customer needs and project constraints are thoroughly identified when the project is initiated. Through this team environment GSWC is able to ensure customer satisfaction and on time delivery.

Our customers include M. A. Mortenson, Florida Power and Light, Alliant Energy, and MSE Power Systems to name a few. Many of these jobs have been EPC or design/build projects requiring a strong partnership with experienced and reliable engineering firms.

Examples of our projects:

Cedar Creek Wind Energy, L.L.C.
(Babcock & Brown, BP Alternative Energy)
Cedar Creek Wind Farm
Grover, CO


This EPC project included 73 miles of new 230kV transmission line. Construction took place during the worst Colorado winter in fifty years. Our team performed engineering, procurement and construction on a fast track schedule beginning engineering in June 2006 in conjunction with route selection and acquisition and construction completion in August 2007. The 73 mile 230kV line was a hybrid (concrete/steel) H-frame structure with vertical bundled 954 ACSR and two 3/8” static lines. There were multiple crossings over high voltage lines, highways, and a river crossing. Sandy terrain resulted in difficult conditions that required matting to access structure locations. Sensitive environmental and permitting issues were dealt with through a significant amount of coordination.

M. A Mortenson
Tatanka Wind Farm
North Dakota

This project included the procurement and construction of 13 miles of 230kV transmission line including wood h-frames, OPGW and 3/8” OHGW. The project was built on rolling terrain through Southeast North Dakota with many wetland areas and ponds in the ROW. The construction of the project began in July of 2007 and was completed in November 2008.

Public Service Company of New Mexico
Taiban Mesa Wind Farm
New Mexico

Construction of four lattice tower deadends and wire for shoofly transmission line, installation of new 345kV substation including breakers, switches, bus work, cable trench, conduits, grounding and control building.

Alliant Energy
Woodward Wind Farm
Oklahoma

Collector –
Construction of nine miles of three phase underground distribution including trenching, backfill and borings for 4/0, 500 and 1,000 MCM 34.5kV power cables; installation of pad mount transformers, junction boxes and associated conduits, grounding and terminations.

Substation –
Construction of a 138kV substation including switches, breakers, transformer, switchgear, steel, associated buswork, jumpers, control cable, concrete foundations, fencing and rock.

Florida Power and Light
Capricorn Ridge Wind Farm

Three transmission line EPC projects were performed for FPL Energy at the Capricorn Ridge Goat Mountain wind farm in Sterling City, TX. The first two projects Goat Mountain and Capricorn Ridge Phase 3 were 138kV lines installed utilizing concrete direct embedded structures. In addition, we installed a 345kV line 4 miles in length on laminated wood H frame structures for Capricorn Ridge Phase 4. Great Southwestern managed the design, procurement and construction of these 6.5, 7 and 4 mile lines. They also included the installation of OPGW fiber optic static lines including testing and splicing. These projects were all installed following a tight schedule with specified completion dates.

Please contact us for more information about how we can help you with your next alternative energy line project.