Wisconsin Power & Light Co. said Friday that the large wind power project it plans to develop in Minnesota will cost $450 million to $475 million.
The Madison-based utility, a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corp., filed an application with state regulators to approve the Bent Tree Wind Farm in Freeborn County, Minn.
If the project is approved, construction will begin next year and generation of electricity will begin by the end of 2010, the utility said. The project would generate 200 megawatts of electricity, or enough to power 100,000 homes, according to the utility.
“WPL chose to develop the Bent Tree site in Minnesota because of the strong and persistent prairie winds of southern Minnesota,” Kim Zuhlke, vice president of new energy resources, said in a statement. “This wind resource enables us to generate more wind energy for our Wisconsin customers in a cost effective manner.”
In April, the company signed a letter of intent to buy the project from Wind Capital Group LLC. The purchase is expected to become final by October.
The deal includes a second phase, also capable of generating 200 megawatts of power, but Wisconsin Power & Light said it has not decided whether to pursue that.
The electric and natural gas utility serves south-central and southwestern Wisconsin and several counties in the eastern part of the state.
By Thomas Content
6 June 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/06/07/wind-farm-could-cost-475-million/