MidAmerican Energy submits plan to build 552MW wind power project in Iowa

MidAmerican Energy Company has submitted plans before the Iowa Utilities Board to develop 552MW wind power project.

The total cost of the project is $900m and MidAmerican Energy is planning to commence construction of wind farms at two new sites by spring 2016, with completion expected by the end of the same year.

The company has so far invested $5.8bn for wind projects in Iowa, and with the addition of two new projects, the investment will rise to $6.7bn and total wind assets will include 2,000 turbines and more than 4,000 megawatts of wind generation capacity.

The company is currently responsible for providing electric service to 746,000 customers along with natural gas service to 726,000 customers belonging to Iowa, Illinois South Dakota and Nebraska.

MidAmerican Energy CEO Bill Fehrman: "As a company, we made a commitment to developing wind as a resource for our customers, and we’re proud to say we’ve followed through with and expanded upon that commitment.

"Once the proposed projects are completed, we’re projecting that 57 percent of our total retail load could be served with energy from these turbines.

"This puts us in a strong position to comply with future carbon emissions limits without placing the significant financial burden of that compliance on our customers."

Fehrman added: "We have abundant wind resources in Iowa and community leaders and landowners who want wind development in their areas.

"Over the next 30 years, an estimated $1.5 billion in property taxes and lease payments will flow to local communities as a result of our wind projects."