Wind power in Iowa
Iowa is a leading U.S. state in wind power generation of electricity. With the completion of several projects in late 2011, wind power in Iowa has nearly 4400 megawatts (MW) of capacity, second only to Texas.[1] Wind power accounted for almost 20 percent of the state’s electricity generation in the first quarter of 2011. Since Iowa adopted a renewable energy standard in 1983, the wind power industry has generated almost $5 billion in investment. The 440 MW Rolling Hills Wind Farm in southwestern Iowa is due to be completed in late 2011.[2]
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[edit] Overview
The development of wind power in Iowa began with the enactment in 1983 of a state law that required investor-owned utilities in the state to buy a total of 105 MW of power from wind generated electricity, one of first renewable electricity portfolio standards. This provided assurance to those building wind power installations that there would be a market for the electricity they produced.[1]
Installed wind power capacity in Iowa grew quickly in 2008 and 2009. In their end of year report for 2009, the American Wind Energy Association reported that the installed wind power capacity in Iowa was 3670 MW.[3] Only Texas has a higher amount of installed wind power capacity. Wind power installations increased by 879 MW from a year earlier. In the prior year, 2008, over 1500 MW of wind power generation was installed. Also in 2008, Iowa overtook the historical leader in wind power, California.
In 2010 and in 2009, Iowa led the U.S. in the percentage of electrical power generated by wind, at 15.4 percent and 14.2 percent.[4] This was up from 7.7 percent in 2008, as there was a large increase in the installed capacity in 2008. Some of the wind power generated electricity is sold to utility companies in nearby states, such as Wisconsin,[5] and Illinois.[6]
Wind farms are most prevalent in the north and west portion of Iowa. Wind maps show the winds in these areas to be stronger on average, making them better suited for the development of wind energy. Average wind speeds are not consistent from month to month. Wind maps show wind speeds are on average strongest from November through April, peaking in March. August is the month with the weakest average wind speeds.[7] Estimates by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) indicate Iowa has potentially 570,700 Megawatts of wind power using large turbines mounted on 80 meter towers.[8] Iowa ranks seventh in the country in terms of wind energy generation potential due to the strong average wind speeds in the midsection of the U.S.[1]
The average capacity factor of Iowa wind farms has been estimated as 33.3% by a wind industry consultant.[9] Several of the newer projects are the large 440 MW Rolling Hills project near Massena, the Elk Wind Farm near Greeley, and Gamesa's Pomeroy project north of Pomeroy. All were constructed in 2011.[10][11][12]
According to the Iowa Office of Energy Independence, lack of transmission line capacity is beginning to restrict further growth of wind farms in the state.[13] A report from the NREL acknowledges that this is a major hurdle to increased wind power development in the U.S.[14] One proposal for expanding the transmission capacity in the Upper Midwest is the Green Power Express.[15] A high voltage DC line that would transmit power from near Sioux City to the Chicago area has also been proposed.[16]
In May 2010, a plan to have 50% of the electricity generated in Iowa come from wind power was announced. Of the wind generated electricity, 40% would be used in state and 60% would be sold to out of state customers.[17]
[edit] Windpower industry
A number of companies involved in the windpower industry have office or manufacturing facilities in Iowa. Blades for wind turbines are manufactured in Newton by TPI Composites and in Fort Madison by Siemens. Turbines are manufactured in Cedar Rapids by Clipper Windpower and in West Branch by Acciona. Towers are also manufactured in Newton by Trinity Structural Towers. Companies manufacturing other parts for wind turbines are located in Iowa as well.[18]
In addition to manufacturing, various companies support the development of wind power projects.[18] The wind power industry employs more than 3000 people in Iowa.[1]
In late September 2007, Siemens Power Generation opened its new wind turbine blade factory in Fort Madison, on the banks of the Mississippi River. The factory can produce more than 2000 blades annually.[19] A plant expansion in 2008 brought the facility up to nearly 600,000 square feet, up from 310,000. The facility manufactures 148-foot (45 m)-long, 12-ton blades for the company's 2.3-MW wind turbines installed in the United States.[20]
Clipper Windpower manufactures its 2.5 MW Liberty wind turbine at its Cedar Rapids location. This model is being used in the Endeavor project in northwest Iowa and in the huge Titan Wind Project in South Dakota.
The Iowa Office of Energy Independence (OEI) is tasked with determining policy and setting goals towards renewable energy production. The office seeks to coordinate efforts between industry, community leaders, state and local government, and educational institutions to achieve energy policy goals.[18]
[edit] List of wind farms in Iowa
The following is an incomplete list of wind farms.
- Name, Location
- Top Of Iowa - near Joice, west of I-35
- Intrepid - between Schaller and Storm Lake, north of U.S. 20
- Story County I- north of Colo
- Story County II - south of Humbolt, Story and Hardin counties [21]
- Pomeroy - between Pomeroy and Fonda, along Iowa 7
- Spirit - near Spirit Lake
- Endeavor - near Lake-Park, Harris along Iowa 9
- Century - north of Blairsburg, along U.S. 69, west of I-35
- Buena Vista - Alta, Peterson, Truesdale area
- Victory - near Arcadia and Westside, U.S. 30[22]
- Carroll - northwest of Carroll, near Mt. Carmel & Breda
- Hancock County - Klemme
- Hardin Hilltop - north of Jefferson, 7 towers
- Charles City - west of Charles City
- Walnut - near Walnut (n.e. of Council Bluffs), mostly south of I-80
- Whispering Willow Wind Farm - Franklin County, between Hampton and Iowa Falls
- Adair - South of Adair, near I-80[23]
- Barton -near Kensett, east of I-35[24]
- Crystal Lake - between Buffalo Center and Crystal Lake, Hancock and Winnebago Counties
- Pioneer Prairie - Howard & Mitchell Counties
- Crosswind Energy - southeast of Ruthven, U.S. 18[25]
- North Star - Emmet & Dickinson Counties (Under development)
- Lost Lakes - West of Milford - Dickinson County
- Iowa Lakes Superior - near Superior, U.S. 71[26][27]
- Iowa Lakes Lakota - near Lakota, Iowa 9[26]
- All other missing wind farms of Iowa [1]
The Spirit, Endeavor, Buena Vista, Lost Lakes, and Crosswind Energy wind farms are all located upon the Coteau des Prairies, a slightly elevated area that results in the windiest locations in Minnesota and Iowa. Coteau des Prairies is sometimes referred to as Buffalo Ridge, which is actually a specific ridge within the area, mostly in Minnesota.
Power from the Iowa Lakes Superior and Iowa Lakes Lakota projects is used by ethanol fuel plants in their respective communities.[26] This marks the first use of wind power being used to supply energy to produce another renewable energy source.[27]
It has been announced that two large wind farms to be built by Mid-American Energy have been approved by the Iowa Utilities Board. The two wind farms would have a combined capacity of 1000 MW. Mid-American Energy is owned by Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway company.[28][29]
[edit] See also
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[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Wiser, Mike. "Wind energy helping power Iowa economy". wcfcourrier.com. http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/wind-energy-helping-power-iowa-economy/article_5a95a4d6-0063-5a66-a4f3-1044d8776625.html. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
- ^ Jim Witkin (August 18, 2011). "A Republican Shout-Out for Wind Energy". New York Times. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/18/a-republican-shout-out-for-wind-energy/.
- ^ "AWEA Year End 2009 Market Report". American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). January 20, 2010. http://www.awea.org/publications/reports/4Q09.pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-29.[dead link]
- ^ Energy Information Administration - Electric Power Monthly March 2011
- ^ http://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/environment/crane_creek.aspx Crane Creek Wind Farm
- ^ Iberdrola in deal to sell power from Iowa wind farm
- ^ Iowa monthly wind maps
- ^ Iowa policy project
- ^ Iowa Utilities Board
- ^ Elk Wind Farm construction
- ^ Rolling Hills wind farm construction
- ^ Pomeroy (Gamesa) wind farm
- ^ Chernova, Yuliya (October 19, 2009). "The Answer Is Blowing in…Iowa". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204488304574431213848800796.html.
- ^ http://www.nrel.gov/wind/news/2008/598.html NREL Eastern Area Wind Energy Study
- ^ Green Power Express
- ^ Transmission Line Proposed for Iowa
- ^ 50% wind power plan
- ^ a b c Iowa Office of Energy Independence
- ^ Siemens produces 5,000th blade at Fort Madison facility
- ^ Siemens' Fort Madison facility facts
- ^ Google buys power from Iowa wind farm
- ^ http://www.clipperwindinc.com/victory1.html
- ^ http://www.truckstopusa.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22443
- ^ http://m.dmregister.com/news.jsp?key=543321
- ^ http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/pub/nov07/iowa.htm Iowa wind farms supported by USDA Renewable Energy Program
- ^ a b c Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative Lakota and Superior projects
- ^ a b Superior wind farm
- ^ http://gazetteonline.com/breaking-news/2009/11/06/more-wind-energy-coming-to-iowa
- ^ "State Energy Profiles - Iowa". U.S. Energy Information Administration. Dec 30, 2009. http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=IA. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
[edit] External links
- Iowa Alliance for Wind Innovation and Novel Development
- Wind energy data for Iowa at The Wind Power
- Iowa Office of Energy Independence: Wind
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