Great River Energy has begun purchasing power from the Prairie Star Wind Farm, located about 15 miles southeast of Austin, Minn. Horizon Wind Energy is the owner and developer of the 100.65 MW project. Great River Energy is selling 5 MW from the wind project to Dairyland Power Cooperative in La Crosse, Wis. The wind farm is located in the service area of Dairyland member Freeborn-Mower Cooperative.
Prairie Star Wind Farm is expected to produce 362,000 MWh of energy. Construction of the 61 1.65 MW wind turbines started in spring 2007, and the project came online in December 2007.
‘The Prairie Star Wind Farm is an excellent fit for Great River Energy,’ says Mark Rathbun, Great River Energy's renewable energy project leader. ‘Not only does it provide us with clean, renewable energy, it also brings us closer to our commitment to reach the 25-percent renewable energy standard by the year 2025.’
