Chaksa, Minnesota-based Outland Renewable Energy has announced plans to build a community-wind generator-owned power line to move wind energy from the wind-belt of southwest Minnesota to the Twin Cities area. Outland is a non-utility, private company and will finance the Minnesota Independence Line.
According to the company, this privately funded line will significantly increase the ability of wind energy resources available to meet the increasing demand for renewable energy and will help Minnesota meet its renewable portfolio standard (RPS), which requires that 25% of the state's electricity come from renewable energy sources by 2025.
The Minnesota Independence Line will be a high-voltage transmission line approximately 150 miles in length, running from the Buffalo Ridge area to the Twin Cities area. This wind line will have the potential to move up to 3,000 MW of wind out of the Buffalo Ridge region. Outland hopes to have the line operational in 2012. This plan will help the state meet the first milestone in the RPS, which is 12% by 2012.
‘This is a community endeavor where we will actively reach out to our communities to discuss every step of the project,’ says Ingrid Bjorklund, vice president of government affairs and associate general counsel for Outland. ‘Outland has the expertise and financial strength to deliver the potential of wind energy to Minnesota and revitalize our rural communities.’
