Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and community leaders joined local families to dedicate the Rugby Wind Power Project. North Dakota's newest wind farm, which was developed by Iberdrola Renewables, is producing 149.1 MW of power.
‘The new wind farm in Rugby is important to our local economy and our nation's energy independence,’ says Dorgan. ‘North Dakota truly is the Saudi Arabia of wind energy potential, and the growth we're seeing in wind energy in North Dakota means more jobs creation, economic development and a cleaner environment.’
The project consists of 71 Suzlon S88 2.1 MW wind turbines. At the peak of Rugby's construction, the project employed more than 250 construction worker.s Seventeen full-time jobs are based at the site, and the project contributes approximately $2 million annually in the form of landowner lease payments and property taxes.
As part of Iberdrola Renewables' avian and bat-protection plan, the company is helping the Roosevelt Park Zoo in Minot, N.D., establish its first avian-protection program.
Power from the Rugby Wind Power Project meets the annual energy needs of 11,000 homes served by Missouri River Energy Services, an organization of member communities throughout the region.
SOURCE: Iberdrola Renewables
