Steelhead Americas has commissioned the 144MW Crossover wind project in Cross County, the first utility-scale wind farm in Arkansas.
The company said it began initial development in 2020 and led early-stage work including permitting, land acquisition, community engagement and construction design before selling the project to Cordelio Power in 2023.
Chris Rogers, senior vice president of Steelhead Americas, said: “This marks another proud milestone in Steelhead Americas’ growing track record of successful firsts’, delivering yet another wind project in a new and complex market and reinforcing our reputation as a trusted leader in wind energy development.”
He said: “Arkansas presented unique challenges, but by combining Vestas’ technology expertise with Steelhead’s development capabilities, we were able to bring the Crossover project to life in a way that made sense for all players across the region.”
Steelhead said it brings a proven approach to markets new to wind energy, having also developed Mississippi’s first wind project, Delta, in 2022.
The company said its collaborative model tailors each project to local priorities and values to deliver affordable, American-made energy.
Local landowner Rome Helton said: “As a landowner and farmland manager, I am always seeking ways to make the farms I own and manage more productive.”
He said: “Wind energy fits this perfectly and after heavily researching and vetting Vestas and Steelhead, I found the perfect fit to expand into wind energy.”
He added: “Steelhead took the time to understand and worked hard to make wind energy fit into the delta way of farming.”
Steelhead said it has delivered 3.1GW of energy projects across North America and has a further 3.8GW in the pipeline.
The company said developing projects in-house from greenfield to shovel-ready ensures close collaboration with local communities and supports rural economies.