August 27, 2016
Iowa
Iowa
DES MOINES – MidAmerican Energy Co. on Friday received the final order from the Iowa Utilities Board for Wind XI.
In a news release, MidAmerican Energy officials said the action was “a positive step toward the company’s 100 percent renewable vision.
“This is an exciting day for our customers, the state of Iowa and MidAmerican Energy,” said Bill Fehrman, president and CEO of MidAmerican Energy. “We thank the board for its support and for moving quickly to deliver this ruling.”
In April, MidAmerican Energy announced plans for the $3.6 billion Wind XI project involving sites across Iowa. The precise locations are still being finalized. Now that the state has approved the project, MidAmerican Energy is finalizing plans to begin construction of 1,000 wind turbines, with completion expected by the end of 2019.
The turbines will be placed into service over a three-year period, starting next year, with the final sites placed into service in 2019.
MidAmerican Energy officials said Wind XI – the largest wind project it has ever undertaken – will add up to 2,000 megawatts of wind generation in Iowa. MidAmerican Energy is not asking for an increase in customer rates or financial assistance from the state to pay for the project.
“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,” Mr. Fehrman said.
Wind XI is projected to generate more than $1.2 billion in landowner easement and property tax payments over the next 40 years. Additionally, during construction, the project it is expected to add thousands of jobs to Iowa’s economy, with hundreds of permanent jobs created when the expansion is complete.
Headquartered in Des Moines, MidAmerican Energy provides electric service to 752,000 customers and natural gas service to 733,000 customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/08/27/midamerican-gets-state-ok-for-wind-energy-project/