MidAmerican Energy is finalising plans to start the construction of a 2000 MW wind farm complex in the US state of Iowa, it has announced. The Iowa Utilities Board has given consent for the $3.6 billion Wind XI array, which will involve the installation of 1000 wind turbines across multiple sites.
The project will be developed in three phases, with completion of the entire array completed in 2019 according to a MidAmerican statement. The project is key to its 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 exact locations of the wind turbines, but that the approval of the scheme by IUB will enable it to take advantage of Production Tax Credits. The first of the Wind XI wind turbines will be put into service in 2017. When it is completed, MidAmerican’s annual renewable energy generation is expected to reach a level equivalent to around 85% of the company’s Iowa retail customers’ annual usage.