Ikea bought a huge wind farm in Texas' Rio Grande Valley

Interest in Texas wind farms is tied to the better economy. Interest in Texas wind farms is tied to the better economy. Photo: Michael Ainsworth / Dallas Morning News Photo: Michael Ainsworth / Dallas Morning News Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Ikea bought a huge wind farm in Texas' Rio Grande Valley 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO – Swedish furniture store Ikea has purchased a South Texas wind farm in hopes of producing as much renewable energy as the company consumes globally.

The 165-megawatt wind farm, which is the company's largest renewable energy investment, will sit in Cameron County, the southernmost county in Texas. It will begin operation in late 2015, Ikea announced Tuesday.

The wind farm is the second purchased by Ikea with the goal of producing "as much renewable energy as the total energy the company consumes globally," a news release announcing the investment said. The first wind farm was purchased in Hoopeston, Illinois in April.

A request for comment from Ikea and Cameron County officials was not immediately returned.

The Cameron County farm almost doubles in size of the Hoopeston farm, which is expected to generate 98 megawatts when it opens in early 2015.

Combined, the two farms will generate around 1,000 gigawatt hours of electricity per year, averaging the same as the yearly energy consumption of around 90,000 U.S. households.

"We invest in renewable energy to become more sustainable as a business and also because it makes good business sense," Rob Olson, Ikea U.S. Acting President and CFO, said in the press release. "And as a home furnishings retailer with sustainability in our roots, we are committed to providing products and solutions that help our customers be more sustainable in their everyday lives."

According to the release, the group operates 279 wind turbines worldwide and will invest $1.9 billion in renewable energy by the end of 2015.

The Cameron project alone will have 55 3-megawatt Acciona turbines, and will be fully operated by Apex Clean Energy, a Virginia-based renewable energy company that owns farms in the county for its Cameron Wind Project.

South Texas is known for its favorable wind, which leads the nation in wind energy production.

rsalinas@mysa.com