MidAmerican Energy Company says it will begin construction on the 90.8-MW Ivester wind farm this month, as part of its MidAmerican Energy’s Wind XI project. The Wind XI project, scheduled for completion in December 2019, will include up to 1,000 wind turbines, adding up to 2,000 MW of wind generation capacity in Iowa — or enough energy to power more than 840,000 average Iowa homes.
Once complete at the end of this year, Ivester will add 90.8 MW of wind generation capacity for MidAmerican Energy customers, or enough wind energy to power more than 38,000 average Iowa homes.
Located in west-central Grundy County, Iowa, the Ivester project will comprise of 35 Siemens Gamesa wind turbines. The wind farm is expected to add about $875,000 in estimated average annual property taxes in Grundy County, in addition to construction, and long-term O&M jobs.
“This is an exciting year for MidAmerican Energy, as the Ivester wind farm is our latest addition that will help us increase wind generating capacity for our customers,” Mike Fehr, MidAmerican Energy vice president of resource development, said.
Wind XI project
The 2,000-MW Wind XI project is a $3.6 billion wind farm, first announced in 2016.
MidAmerican Energy previously announced construction of two Wind XI wind farm projects now underway in Adair County – Arbor Hill and Orient. Beaver Creek II in Greene County, and North English in Poweshiek County, are also under construction.
Two additional wind farms, Beaver Creek in Boone and Greene counties, and Prairie in Mahaska County, are now operating.
Wind XII project
On May 30, MidAmerican Energy announced further plans to be the first investor-owned electric utility in the nation to generate renewable energy equal to 100% of its customers’ usage on an annual basis — upon completing its newest proposed wind energy project.
The company expects to complete the project, called Wind XII, in late 2020. Wind XII is subject to Iowa Utilities Board approval.
Wind energy economic benefits
In 2017, MidAmerican Energy paid $19.6 million in Iowa property taxes on its wind farms. These annual payments are in addition to the economic benefits associated with wind energy construction, operations and maintenance jobs in rural areas, wind industry manufacturing jobs, landowner easement payments, and renewable energy’s impact in attracting new businesses to the state.
Filed Under: News, Projects
