Des Moines, Iowa-based MidAmerican Energy Co. has completed two new wind farms in Iowa, adding 338 MW of wind generation capacity for its customers.
The Beaver Creek wind farm in Boone and Greene counties and the Prairie wind farm in Mahaska County are now in operation. Construction started in spring 2017 following approval by the Iowa Utilities Board in 2016.
Part of the company’s Wind XI project, the two newest wind farms add 169 wind turbines to the more than 2,000 owned and operated by MidAmerican Energy.
“We’re committed to providing reliable service and outstanding value to our customers, and wind energy accomplishes both,” says Mike Fehr, vice president of resource development at MidAmerican Energy. “Wind energy is good for our customers, and it’s an abundant, renewable resource that also energizes the economy.”
As part of its 100% renewable energy vision, MidAmerican Energy anticipates that renewable generation will equate to more than 90% of its customers’ annual retail electricity usage by 2020.
The 170 MW Beaver Creek wind farm went into service in fall 2017. The 168 MW Prairie wind farm also began generating electricity in fall 2017; the final 4 MW was put into service in January.
The Beaver Creek and Prairie wind farms produce enough electricity to meet the average annual usage of more than 140,000 Iowa homes, says MidAmerican Energy.
In 2017, MidAmerican Energy paid $19.6 million in property tax payments related to wind energy and nearly $16 million in landowner lease payments. The two new Iowa wind farms are projected to add a total of $62.4 million in property tax revenue over the next 20 years.
