MidAmerican Energy proceeds with wind project
The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa --Sep. 25
Sep. 25--MidAmerican Energy released final plans for a $323 million Iowa wind energy development Friday, crediting the passage of renewable energy tax credits by Congress for its decision to proceed.
The 1.5-megawatt turbines from GE Wind energy will have a combined output of
310 megawatts, enough to power 85,000 homes.
Major expenditures on the projects were frozen pending extension of a federal
production tax credit for electricity generated using wind turbines that expired
on Dec. 31, 2003. Those tax credits are extended to Dec. 31, 2005, in a tax
package approved Thursday by the House and Senate.
Efforts to renew the tax credits had bogged down, causing many big wind
projects across the United States to be placed on hold.
MidAmerican Project Manager Tom Budler said the company has completed land
leases and poured anchor pads for the turbines in the Storm Lake area in hopes
the wind tax credits would be renewed soon. MidAmerican expects to complete
installation of the turbines at Storm Lake by year's end.
Leases are in place for the wind turbines near Blairsburg, and the anchor
pads will be installed later this year, Budler said. Installation of the towers
and turbines is planned for next spring.
Each farmer who leases land will receive $4,000 per year for each of the
turbines. The wind turbines are the largest made in the United States, standing
213 feet tall at the hub, with blades extending upward to 330 feet.
MidAmerican is working with wind developers enXco Inc. and Clipper Windpower
Development Co. to complete the project, the first wind development it will own.
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