Utility plans to double wind power in Iowa

IOWA - Several Iowa communities could soon see new wind turbines as part of plans to more than double the amount of wind energy MidAmerican Energy Co. generates in the Hawkeye state.

That could bring the utility's investment in Iowa wind power to about $1.75 billion. The Iowa Utilities Board approved MidAmerican's request to add up to 540 megawatts of new wind power. Spokesman Allan Urlis said the utility hopes to spread the more than 300 new turbines among seven sites across the state. New sites would be near Walnut, Adair, Carroll, Spencer, Orient and Charles City.

The utility already has access to property near Pomeroy. If all the turbines are built, MidAmerican will be generating 1,000 megawatts of wind power in Iowa. The utility also purchases 109 megawatts of wind power from another utility in Iowa.

If this latest project is fully built, renewable energy will total about 18 percent of MidAmerican's fuel sources, displacing the equivalent in carbon dioxide of 682,000 cars, or 43 percent of Iowa's cars. The wind power generated by MidAmerican turbine, existing and proposed, would be enough to run 336,000 homes.

The utility will draw upon federal tax credits to help underwrite the cost of the turbines. Urlis said the utility intends to have the turbines built by the end of 2008. MidAmerican recently brought a wind turbine at the Iowa State Fairgrounds online.

The turbine generates a half-megawatt of electricity, or about 25 percent of the fair's needs, Urlis said.

Related News

tidal power

Is tidal energy the surge remote coastal communities need?

VANCOUVER - Many remote West Coast communities are reliant on diesel for electricity generation, which poses a number of negative economic and environmental effects.

But some sites along B.C.’s extensive coastline are ideal for tidal energy micro-grids that may well be the answer for off-grid communities to generate clean power, suggested experts at a COAST (Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies) virtual event Wednesday.

There are 40 isolated coastal communities, many Indigenous communities, and 32 of them are primarily reliant on diesel for electricity generation, said Ben Whitby, program manager at PRIMED, a marine renewable energy research lab at the University of…

READ MORE

Nova Scotia Power says it now generates 30 per cent of its power from renewables

READ MORE

mexico power lines

Mexican president's contentious electricity overhaul defeated in Congress

READ MORE

substation attack

Neo-Nazi, woman accused of plotting 'hate-fueled attacks' on power stations, federal complaint says

READ MORE

climate change

Charting a path to net zero electricity emissions by the middle of the century

READ MORE