Wind Power News: Iowa
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Wind farm questions still linger in county
The new Vienna wind farm project west of Gladbrook appears to be on track to be operational by the end of the year, though one Marshall County official said a few more answers would help him out. John Kunc, planning and zoning director with Marshall County, gave a report to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday and seemed displeased with the lack of cooperation from companies involved in the project including Mortenson Construction and Mid-American Energy. Kunc said the exact number . . .
Gamesa selling wind farms for $900 million
Gamesa, the Spanish wind energy company, has agreed to sell four U.S. wind farms to Canada’s Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. for approximately $900 million. The wind farms, equipped with 240 Gamesa turbines, are scheduled to be commissioned later this year and have a combined generating capacity of 480 megawatts. The farms being sold are in Sandy Ridge in Centre County and in Iowa, Texas and Illinois. “This transaction combines three of Gamesa’s major goals: partnering up with new leading . . .
Senator predicts tough road for renewable electricity standard
The head of the U.S. Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee acknowledged Sunday there’s a tough road ahead for legislation he has introduced that would push utilities to generate more of their electricity from clean energy sources. The so-called Clean Energy Standard is considered vital for the future development of wind energy, creating a mandate similar to the Renewable Fuel Standard that has propelled the ethanol and biodiesel industries in the transportation sector. Iowa wind interests consider a clean electricity . . .
IWEA head withdraws ‘layoff’ quote
Contrary to a report last week, Acciona Windpower does not plan to layoff staff if the U.S. Congress does not pass tax credits that support wind energy production. Radio Iowa reported on Feb. 20 that Iowa Wind Energy Assoc. Executive Director Harold Prior said that if the Production Tax Credit, which includes wind energy, is not passed this spring, Iowa could stand to lose “close to 3,000” jobs. “Clipper’s already laid off 100. Acciona’s probably going to be laying off . . .
Trustees approve turbines
The Grinnell Board of Trustees voted to fund the wind turbine initiative to the tune of $13 million last Friday. The decision was largely expected but is the result of over 15 years of discussion. Begun in 1996, the proposal moved through several revisions and both students and faculty researched it before Trustees voted on it. Although there is still a lot of work to be done, the board’s decision is a huge step towards making the plan a reality. . . .
More wind turbines on tap
It will be another summer of wind turbine construction in Marshall County. The Vienna Township wind farm project, southwest of Gladbrook, will soon get underway in the northeastern portion of Marshall County. The project will include 20 to 25 turbines in Marshall County with 20 to 25 in Tama County. The turbines will be 2.3 megawatts and will be the same size structures that were put in place in the Laurel area last summer. Site work is expected to begin . . .
Tama County’s first wind farm on the way
Tama County’s large-scale wind energy farm is moving forward. The Tama County Board of Adjustment approved plans for the Vienna Wind Energy Project on Friday, Feb. 24, according to Bill Christensen, county zoning administrator. He said the Board of Adjustment approved conditional use permits for ITC?and MidAmerican Energy for substations, towers and turbines all to be located in Spring Creek Township, west of Gladbrook. Completion of the work is required by Dec. 31 of this year. Christensen said 20 wind . . .
Floyd County submits wind application
CHARLES CITY — Floyd County submitted an application to the Iowa Utilities Board this week to become a small wind innovation zone. If the application is approved, those who build small wind turbines in unincorporated areas in the county will receive a state tax credit as well as a $500 grant from the county. Mark Kuhn, a member of the Floyd County Board of Supervisors, said the state utilities board will decide whether to approve the county’s application within 20 . . .
Ill wind: Farmers find problems with wind power generators
READLYN, Iowa — Green energy has some Northeast Iowa farmers seeing red. Not with the concept, but with a wind energy company. More than a dozen grain and livestock producers who purchased wind turbines to cut energy costs and help the environment have had nothing but problems. The company that sold the turbines — Earth Linked Energy Solutions of Story City — is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Customers say the turbines cost far more than they’ve saved. Attempts . . .
Wind energy loses in tax legislation
Windpower Magazine and other sources are reporting that extension of the 2-cent per megawatt hour production tax credit for wind energy projects has been excluded from the compromise Payroll Tax bill in congress. Wind advocates had hoped that the PTC rider on the tax bill would get the measure passed in time to help the financing of wind projects scheduled for this year. Since the early 1990s the PTC has been lost and reenacted four times, and each time the . . .
