Spirit AeroSystems to power Wichita aircraft factory with Kingman wind farm electricity

Spirit AeroSystems will be switching to electricity generated by a Kansas wind farm to power its aircraft factory in Wichita.

Spirit officials announced in a news release on Thursday that public utility regulators had “cleared a path” for the company to convert to renewable energy at its massive 12.8 million square-foot manufacturing facility this year. The Kansas Corporation Commission approved a 10-year agreement between Spirit and Evergy under which Spirit will buy wind-generated electricity.

“Kansas is known for wind, and Spirit Wichita is known for building airplanes,” said Ron Rabe, Spirit’s senior vice president for operations, in a statement. “The two will now be directly connected in a way that helps both the environment and our ability to compete. This new agreement is important to Spirit because it helps maintain the company as a vibrant and growing contributor to the Kansas economy. The new electric rates we will be paying address price disadvantages for electric service Spirit has experienced in Kansas compared to our operations in other states.”

Spirit’s Wichita facility, which also houses the company’s headquarters, will get its electricity from the Flat Ridge 3 wind farm near Kingman starting later this year. The wind farm is expected to generate about 130 megawatts of power once it is completed this year.