MidAmerican Energy is finalising plans to start the construction of a 2000 MW wind farm in the US state of Iowa, it has announced. The Iowa Utilities Board has given consent for the $3.6 billion Wind XI wind farm, which will involve installation of 1000 wind turbines across ‘multiple sites’ in Iowa. The wind farm will be developed in three phases, with completion of the entire wind farm completed in 2019, MidAmerican said in an official company statement. The project is a key part of the firm’s ambition to meet all of its customers’ electricity needs with renewable energy.
MidAmerican Energy is finalising plans to start the construction of a 2000 MW wind farm in the US state of Iowa, it has announced. The Iowa Utilities Board has given consent for the $3.6 billion Wind XI wind farm, which will involve installation of 1000 wind turbines across ‘multiple sites’ in Iowa. The wind farm will be developed in three phases, with completion of the entire wind farm completed in 2019, MidAmerican said in an official company statement. The project is a key part of the firm’s ambition to meet all of its customers’ electricity needs with renewable energy.
“Wind energy helps us keep prices stable and more affordable for customers, provides jobs and economic benefits for communities and the state, and contributes to a cleaner environment for everyone,” said Bill Fehrman, president and CEO of MidAmerican Energy.
The company says it is still working to finalise the locations of the wind turbines, but that the approval of the scheme by IUB will enable it to take advantage of Production Tax Credits (PTCs).
The first of the Wind XI turbines will be placed into service in 2017. When Wind XI is completed, MidAmerican’s annual renewable energy generation is expected to reach a level equivalent to 85% of the annual consumption of all the company’s retail customers in Iowa.