Los Mirasoles Wind Farm - Mechanics Lien Claim

Following construction to complete the second phase of the Los Mirasoles Wind Farm, which spans two South Texas counties, project owner EDP Renewables is now linked to a $4M mechanics lien claim. The outstanding invoice has been lingering since the claim was affirmed on May 14, 2020, according to the lien affidavits.

Subcontractor Bennett On-Site Services filed two identical liens pursuant to Texas’ mechanics lien laws in both Hidalgo and Starr Counties. EDP Renewables currently operates over 30 wind farms across the U.S., with corporate headquarters in Houston, TX. The company also operates 700 megawatts (MW) of wind energy projects across the Lone Star State.

According to Windpower Engineering and Development, construction for the second phase of the Los Mirasoles Wind Farm – which is located nearly 16 miles from the U.S. border with Mexico – was designed to add an additional 50 megawatts (MW) of clean energy to the Rio Grande Valley area.

Subcontractor Files $4M Lien in Two Texas Counties

When filing their mechanics lien claim, Bennett On-Site Services filed the same lien twice and affirmed each on the same date in two separate Texas counties. One of the subcontractor’s liens was processed with the Hidalgo County clerk’s office and another with the Starr County clerk’s office.

Because the Los Mirasoles Wind Farm project spans both counties, Bennett On-Site Services filed their claim twice with each county clerk’s office in order to protect their mechanics lien rights.

In total, Bennett On-Site Services is owed approximately $4,018,910.34 in unpaid work.

The two liens were filed against Vestas-American Wind Technology Inc., the general contractor assigned to the project by EDP Renewables. Following the mechanics lien filing, Vestas-American Wind Technology Inc. filed paperwork to bond off the liens with both the Hidalgo County and Starr County clerk’s offices, known as a Notice of Bond to Indemnify Against Lien.

According to the lien affidavits, Bennett On-Site Services contributed to the Los Mirasoles Wind Farm from October of 2019 through March of 2020.

Wind Farm Located on Nine Parcels

The nine parcels of land that make up the second phase of the Los Mirasoles Wind Farm are located across three Texas cities in Edinburg, Mission, and Weslaco.

As stated in the mechanics lien affidavits filed by Bennett On-Site Services, the nine parcels are leased from local Texas farmers and landowners, which earns them income for leasing a percentage of their land to the farm.

According to Los Mirasoles Wind Farm, both phases of the farm have a combined installed capacity of 300 megawatts, which can reportedly power an average of 65,000 Texas homes.

As reported by Windpower Engineering and Development following the wind farm’s completion, an estimated 88 million gallons of water will be saved each year along with the displacement of carbon emissions from fossil fuels in an effort to combat air pollution.

Windpower Engineering and Development also reported that 240 area jobs were created to construct the second phase of the wind farm.

Construction for the Los Mirasoles Wind Farm was completed in late March of 2020.