Spirit AeroSystems recently announced that Kansas public-utility regulators had ‘cleared a path’ for the company’s complete conversion to wind-generated electricity for its 12.8 million ft² Wichita-based aerospace manufacturing site.

The regulators at the Kansas Corporation Commission approved a 10-year agreement (filed jointly by the company and Evergy Inc) that provides an updated ‘electric rate structure’. In return, Spirit has agreed to purchase Kansas wind-generated electricity, continue investing in capital improvements and make efforts to maintain stable or expanded operations in Wichita.

Ron Rabe, Spirit AeroSystems’ chief procurement officer, said: “Kansas is known for wind, and Spirit Wichita is known for building airplanes. 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 to maintain the company as a vibrant and growing contributor to the state economy. The new electric rates we will be paying address price dis-advantages for electricity that Spirit has experienced in Kansas, compared to our operations in other states.”

Spirit’s Wichita site, which also serves as the company’s headquarters, produces large structural components, such as fuselages and engine nacelles for military and commercial aircraft. Beginning in late 2020, the site will receive its electricity from the Flat Ridge 3 wind farm, which is located near Kingman (Kansas). This wind farm is expected to generate about 130MW of power, once the project is complete by the end of 2020.

Spirit AeroSystems designs and builds aero structures for both commercial and defence customers; it operates sites in the USA, the UK, France and Malaysia.