EDP's Horizon commissions 3 U.S. wind power farms

NEW YORK, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Horizon Wind Energy, owned by EDP Renovaveis SA (EDPR.LS) of Portugal, said Thursday it started commercial operation of more than 500 megawatts of wind power in Oregon, Iowa and Minnesota in December.

The projects include the 201 MW Meridian Way Wind Farm in north-central Kansas, the 102.9 MW Rattlesnake Road Wind Farm near Arlington, Oregon, and the first, 201.3 MW phase of the Pioneer Prairie Wind Farm in Iowa along the Minnesota state line in Howard and Mitchell counties.

Together the projects produce enough energy to power about 150,000 homes.

Horizon sells power from Meridian Way to Empire District Electric Co (EDE.N) and Westar Energy Inc (WR.N), while PG&E Corp (PCG.N) buys power from Rattlesnake Road.

Horizon, of Houston, operates more than 1,500 MW of wind farms in North America. It is owned by renewable energy company EDP Renovaveis SA of Lisbon, Portugal, which is majority owned by Lisbon-based energy company Energias de Portugal SA (EDP.LS). (Reporting by Scott DiSavino; Editing by Walter Bagley)