wiredInUSA February 2017

Wind in Iowa

MidAmerican Energy has unveiled the sites of its first two planned wind farms, part of its 2GW Wind XI development in Iowa. Both projects are scheduled for completion by the end of 2017. The 170MW Beaver Creek project will be built in Boone and Greene counties, while the 168MW Prairie Wind project will be in Mahaska county. The Beaver Creek andPrairieWindprojects will add 338MW to Iowa’s wind generating capacity.

The state already gets nearly 40 percent of its electricity from wind, the highest proportion in the country. Vestas will supply the turbines for the entire $3.6 billion Wind XI development, from its cluster of factories in Colorado. MidAmerican is still working to finalize sites for the remaining wind farms, with construction planned to begin in 2018. The 2GW development is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

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wiredInUSA - February 2017