Project Overview

The Monte Cristo Wind Farm is a renewable energy facility located in Hidalgo County, Texas. It is developed by Terra-Gen, an independent renewable energy-producing company, a joint venture between Masdar and Igneo Infrastructure Partners. 

Developing in two phases, the Monte Cristo I (238.5 MW capacity) was commissioned in November 2025. It is expected to generate over 850 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity annually, enough to power approximately 81,000 homes. 

The second phase of the project is in the planning stage, highlighting the ongoing investment and expansion in the region's renewable energy infrastructure

Overall, the project aligns with Terra-Gen’s broader commitment to boosting clean energy access in Texas and strengthening grid reliability through sustainable power sources. 

It focuses on infrastructure upgrades, including improvements to 11 miles of Texas Department of Transportation roads and 25 miles of county roads, to boost the transport network. 

Monte Cristo Wind Farm Location

The Monte Cristo Wind Farm is located in Hidalgo County, Texas, within a farmland area north of Edinburg in the Rio Grande Valley. 

The site, named after the nearby Monte Cristo Road, utilizes the region’s wind resources in South Texas, spanning agricultural lands ideal for turbine installation.

Project Background

The project began discussions in 2018, seven years before its commissioning, identifying farmland north of Edinburg as a suitable site for wind energy development. 

Initial public meeting records from that period estimated construction costs at USD 216 million, prompting negotiations for incentives to attract the project. 

ERCOT interconnection requests for Monte Cristo I and II were filed in 2017, marking the early stages of grid integration planning.

Monte Cristo Wind Farm Ownership Details

The Monte Cristo Wind Farm project is developed by Terra-Gen, a leading US renewable energy developer jointly owned by Masdar (UAE) and Igneo Infrastructure Partners. 

In 2024, Masdar attained its 50% stake, making Monte Cristo I the first project to complete under the Masdar-Igneo ownership structure.

Project Timeline

Monte Cristo Wind Farm Phase I Commissioned

Monte Cristo Wind Farm Phase I was commissioned on 14th November 2025, expanding Terra-Gen’s clean energy portfolio. This 238.5 MW facility in Hidalgo County, Texas, US, is Terra-Gen's second wind energy project in the state. It raises its total energy capacity in Texas to 273 MW.

Monte Cristo I is expected to generate over 850 Gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean electricity annually, enough to power approximately 81,000 homes. Rio Tinto Kennecott has signed a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) contract covering 78.5 MW of the project’s overall capacity. 

Its construction phase created around 280 jobs, totalling more than 490,000 work hours without a lost-time incident, and included improvements over 11 miles of state roads and 25 miles of county roads. Over its lifetime, the project is expected to deliver more than USD 100 million in property taxes, landowner payments, and other local economic contributions, providing sustained benefits to the region. 

Monte Cristo Project Cost

The total estimated cost for the Monte Cristo Wind Farm project in Texas is approximately USD 216 million. It includes the cost of constructing a 238.5 MW facility consisting of 105 wind turbines, designed to generate over 850 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity annually—enough to power about 81,000 homes.

Monte Cristo Wind Farm Project Contractors

Benefits

The following are the benefits of the project:

• Renewable energy generation expansion: The project is moving forward with Phase II development, increasing clean energy capacity in Texas, boosting environmental & economic benefits.
  

• Regional development: As a result of the project, Hidalgo County will become a renewable energy hub, attracting future projects and investments to the Rio Grande Valley.
  

• Steady power supply agreements: The electricity produced is supplied to two corporate buyers under the long-term power purchase agreements. It ensures steady project revenues and supports sustainability goals by providing renewable energy. 
  

• Job creation: The project created up to 280 jobs during Phase I construction, boosting employment in Hidalgo County, Texas. It underwent over 490,000 work hours without a lost-time injury, highlighting strong safety practices.
  

• Clean power generation: Phase I is expected to generate over 850 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to power about 81,000 homes. It will reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower carbon emissions, and support Texas's transition toward sustainable power sources.

Conclusion

The Monte Cristo Wind Farm project is a renewable energy project located in Hidalgo County, Texas. Developed by Terra-Gen, the project is being developed in two phases. It is expected to generate over 850 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity annually. 

Phase I was successfully commissioned in November 2025 with a power generation capacity of 238.5 MW. Phase II is in the planning stage, highlighting the ongoing investment and expansion in the region's renewable energy infrastructure. 

Overall, the Monte Cristo Wind Farm project is a milestone for Texas's renewable energy generation. It serves as a model of international investments and local economic benefit within the growing Texas wind power sector. 

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