Calgary, Alberta-based TransAlta (NYSE: TAC) announced plans to today to expand its Summerview wind farm in southern Alberta, boosting the site's installed capacity by 66 megawatts.

The power company said the $124 million project would increase Summerview's energy generation to 136 MW.

"Our experience in the development and construction of wind projects allows us to expand our wind capacity at costs below the Canadian average," said Steve Snyder, president and CEO of TransAlta.

"We have identified the potential to develop an additional 500 MW of wind generation in southern Alberta over the next five years. Our ability to execute on these future opportunities is largely dependent on the addition of new transmission capacity within the province."

The company said the Summerview expansion would commence in the second quarter of 2009 with commercial operations expected to begin in the first quarter of 2010.

Located adjacent to the original site, the expansion will include 22, 3 MW, V90 Vestas wind turbines.

Today's announcement follows TransAlta's previous announcements of the 96 MW Kent Hills wind farm, located in New Brunswick, and the 66 MW Blue Trail wind farm in southern Alberta (see TransAlta adds another wind project in Alberta).

TransAlta also owns and operates the Castle River and McBride Lake wind farms in southern Alberta.

The company said the completion of the second phase of the Summerview wind power project will bring its total net wind-generated capacity to 380 MW.