Hancock County Wind Energy Center in Hancock County, Iowa, with 148 Vestas V47-660kW wind turbines for a total nameplate capacity of 97.68 MW. Half of the wind turbines are southwest of Klemme and the other half are south-southeast of Duncan. NextEra Energy Resources owns the wind farm, which began operating in 2002.

Making up over 62% of the state's generated electricity in 2022, wind power is the largest source of electricity generation in Iowa.[1][2] In 2020, over 34 billion kWh of electrical energy was generated by wind power. As of 2022, Iowa has over 12,200 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity with over 6,000 wind turbines, ranking second and third in the nation below Texas respectively.[3]

The development of wind power in Iowa began with a state law, enacted in 1983, requiring investor-owned utilities in the state to purchase 105 MW of power from wind generation.[4] Former governor Terry Branstad stated that by 2020 the percentage of wind generated electricity in Iowa could reach 40 percent. This goal has been exceeded, with over 40 percent of Iowa's electricity being generated from the wind as of October 2019 according to the Energy Information Administration, a first in the nation accomplishment.[5]

Overview

Northern Iowa wind farm
Pioneer Prairie

In addition to federal programs, the state of Iowa encourages development of renewable electricity sources through a 1 cent per kilowatt hour tax credit.[6] Also, generation equipment and facilities receive property tax breaks, and generation equipment is exempt from sales tax.[7][8]

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 the 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.[9]

Iowa has the highest density of wind power generation capacity.

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.[10] This was up from 7.7 percent in 2008, as there was a large increase in the installed capacity in 2008.[11] Some of the wind power generated electricity is sold to utility companies in nearby states, such as Wisconsin,[12] and Illinois.[13]

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.[14][15] On a daily cycle, there is a slight rise in average wind speeds in the afternoon, from 1 to 6 p.m.[16] 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.[17] 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.[9] The Iowa Environmental Mesonet distributes current weather and wind conditions from approximately 450 monitoring stations across Iowa, providing data for modelling and predicting wind power.[18]

The average capacity factor of Iowa wind farms has been estimated as 33.3% by a wind industry consultant.[19] For newer installations, higher capacity factors, approaching 40%, have been stated.[20] Production numbers for 2013, when wind capacity remained almost constant, showed a capacity factor over 34 percent.[21] Due to these better wind conditions, Iowa generated more electricity from wind power in 2013 than California, even though it had less wind power capacity installed.[22] And again in 2014 Iowa was number two in wind power generation behind only Texas.[23]

Several of the newer projects are the large 500 MW Highland Wind Energy Center and the O'Brien Wind Farm in O'Brien County, and the Ida Wind farm in Ida county. These were constructed in 2015 and 2016.[24][25]

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.[26] A report from the NREL acknowledges that this is a major hurdle to increased wind power development in the U.S.[27] A high-voltage direct current line that would transmit power from near Sioux City to the Chicago area has been proposed.[28]

MidAmerican Energy, in 2015, completed five projects in Iowa totaling over 1,000 MW of capacity. The projects are in O'Brien, Marshall, Webster, Grundy, and Madison counties. 448 wind turbines manufactured by Siemens are to be constructed. At a cost of some 1.9 billion dollars, this will be Iowa's largest economic development project to date. The largest project, the Highland Wind Energy Center in O'Brien county, has 500 MW of generation capacity, making it the state's largest.[29][30][31]

In 2017, construction was started on the third wind farm of MidAmerican Energy's Wind XI project. The North English Wind farm in Poweshiek County will consist of 170 2.0 MW Vestas turbines. The project is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2018.[32] Work on two other wind farms in the project, the Beaver Creek wind farm and the Prairie wind farm, is expected to be finished the end of 2017.[33]

From October 23 to 24, 2017, wind power provided all the power consumed by MidAmerican Energy's Iowa customers. This was the first time wind generation reached this threshold, aided by sustained winds of 25 mph (40 km/h) with gusts to 40 mph (65 km/h).[34] Over the calendar year 2022, MidAmerican produced more power from wind in Iowa than its Iowa customers consumed; this includes power exports when wind power exceeded demand, so non-renewable sources were needed when demand exceeded available wind power.[35]

A new transmission line is being built to transmit some of the power from the Highland project to the Spencer and Iowa Great Lakes area. Additionally, power will be transmitted by an existing 345 kilovolt line running from south of Sioux City to Lakefield, Minnesota.[36]

Local industry

A number of companies involved in the wind power industry have offices or manufacturing facilities in Iowa. Blades for wind turbines are manufactured in Newton by TPI Composites and in Fort Madison by Siemens. Towers are also manufactured in Newton by Arcosa, a spinoff of Trinity Structural Towers. Companies manufacturing other parts for wind turbines are located in Iowa as well.[37][38]

In addition to manufacturing, various companies support the development of wind power projects.[37] The wind power industry employs 9,000 to 10,000 people in Iowa.[39] Over $16 billion has been invested in Iowa's wind power projects and manufacturing facilities.[39]

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.[40] 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.[41]

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.[37]

Wind farms

Wind power in Iowa is located in Iowa
Rolling Hills
Adams
Adams
Macksburg
Macksburg
Crystal Lake
Ida
Ida
Carroll
Carroll
Victory
Victory
Arbor Hill
Arbor Hill
Prairie
Prairie
Heartland Divide
Heartland Divide
Walnut
Walnut
Beaver C.
Beaver C.
O'Brien
O'Brien
Highland
Upland Prairie
Upland Prairie
Rippey
Rippey
Lost Lakes
Lost Lakes
Wellsburg
Wellsburg
Cherokee
Cherokee
Story Co.
Story Co.
Pioneer Prairie
Endeavor
Endeavor
Pomeroy
Pomeroy
Century
Century
Whispering Willow
Storm Lake
Storm Lake
Top of Iowa
Top of Iowa
Vienna
Vienna
North English
North English
Charles City
Charles City
English Farms
English Farms
Adair
Adair
Barton
Barton
Intrepid
Intrepid
Elk
Elk
Hawkeye
Hawkeye
Lundgren
Lundgren
Laurel
Laurel
Crane C.
Crane C.
Kossuth
Kossuth
Hancock
Hancock
Des Moines
Des Moines
Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids
Sioux City
Sioux City
Wind power projects in Iowa
  Operating
  Under construction
2020 electricity generation in Iowa by source.[42]

The following lists some of the wind projects in Iowa.

NameLocation
Intrepidbetween Schaller and Storm Lake, north of U.S. 20
Top Of Iowanear Joice, west of I-35
Story County Inorth of Colo
Story County IIsouth of Humboldt, Story and Hardin counties[43]
Pomeroybetween Pomeroy and Fonda, along Iowa 7
Endeavornear Lake-Park, Harris along Iowa 9
Centurynorth of Blairsburg, along U.S. 69, west of I-35
Buena VistaAlta, Peterson, Truesdale area
Victorynear Arcadia and Westside, U.S. 30[44]
Carrollnorthwest of Carroll, near Mt. Carmel & Breda
Hancock CountyKlemme
Hardin Hilltopnorth of Jefferson, 7 towers
Charles Citywest of Charles City
Walnutnear Walnut (n.e. of Council Bluffs), mostly south of I-80
Whispering Willow Wind FarmFranklin County, between Hampton and Iowa Falls
AdairSouth of Adair, near I-80[45]
Bartonnear Kensett, east of I-35[46]
Crystal Lakebetween Buffalo Center and Crystal Lake, Hancock and Winnebago Counties
Pioneer PrairieHoward & Mitchell Counties
Crosswind Energysoutheast of Ruthven, U.S. 18[47]
Lost LakesWest of Milford – Dickinson County
Iowa Lakes Superiornear Superior, U.S. 71[48][49]
Iowa Lakes Lakotanear Lakota, Iowa 9[48]
Laurelwest of Laurel[50]
Rippeybetween Rippey & Grand Jct[50]
Viennasouth of Gladbrook[50]
Beaver CreekBoone and Greene counties[51]
PrairieMahaska County[51]

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.[48][49]

Wind generation

Iowa Wind Generation (GWh, Million kWh)[4][52]
Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Total  % of Total Production
20014433385448352325265251594881.26%
200284103809787754547537381959202.16%
20038791105997850503367991001239822.35%
20041031191201011095738528682761071,0502.43%
20058111115615617412290661481542261631,6473.73%
2006244204251251239132113931412091812582,3165.09%
20073122212802832881711251202232442971952,7595.54%
20083272452884203402531741602533914647664,0817.69%
20096407207977966974403624913286637607267,42014.37%
20107386498519087715554525967458731,1159179,17015.95%
20118079898721,0651,1298504844145721,1021,2571,16710,70818.81%
20121,4901,1411,3681,2961,3161,0636437118871,3661,4151,33614,03224.76%
20131,6711,3881,4221,4701,4461,0948666731,1651,3361,7551,28315,56927.37%
20141,8541,3231,7341,7621,2611,0279165419761,4811,9921,44016,30728.55%
20151,8151,5831,6511,6061,6109057891,0041,3341,6942,0441,83817,87331.54%
20161,7371,8941,8592,3431,3341,3099837891,5561,7962,0502,42220,07236.90%
20171,7202,1622,4162,0791,8631,5458648091,4262,2192,0702,20121,37436.91%
20182,4571,6942,1312,0991,5071,6961,0111,2171,6681,7161,9442,19421,33433.66%
20192,2791,8812,4942,8662,1711,9251,6961,3702,1462,6502,5032,63326,55841.98%
20202,5903,0423,0233,0342,6572,8941,7432,1892,7843,2803,8163,09934,14957.51%
20213,0832,7973,9123,6863,2782,3471,7302,2122,7473,0603,9513,90836,57455.31%
20224,2944,1164,4574,6523,7902,9362,2362,0852,9603,5984,8054,28544,66462.63%
20233,6194,2764,3224,8483,3322,0901,67924,16659.45%

  Teal background indicates wind was the largest source of generation that month.

  Green background indicates largest wind generation month to date.

Iowa Wind Generation in 2019
Iowa Wind Generation Capacity by Year[53][54]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wind power in Iowa.

References

  1. ↑ "Iowa State Profile Overview". U.S. Energy Information Administration. U.S. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  2. ↑ "US wind energy generation reached 5.5% of the grid in 2016". REVE – Wind Energy and Electric Vehicle Review. 6 March 2017.
  3. ↑ "Wind Energy in Iowa" (PDF). American Wind Energy Association. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Electricity Data Browser". U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  5. ↑ Branstad, Terry. "Iowa has the blueprint for energy independence". Governor's Wind Energy Coalition. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  6. ↑ Iowa renewable tax credits
  7. ↑ National wind – Iowa wind data
  8. ↑ Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
  9. 1 2 Wiser, Mike. "Wind energy helping power Iowa economy". wcfcourrier.com. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  10. ↑ Energy Information Administration – Electric Power Monthly March 2011
  11. ↑ Energy efficiency. Rethinking the energy system here in the U.S.
  12. ↑ Crane Creek Wind Farm
  13. ↑ Iberdrola in deal to sell power from Iowa wind farm
  14. ↑ Iowa wind maps
  15. ↑ Iowa monthly wind maps
  16. ↑ Geography and Wind – Iowa Energy Center
  17. ↑ Iowa policy project
  18. ↑ Meteorology -IAWIND
  19. ↑ Iowa Utilities Board Wind generation
  20. ↑ North American Windpower
  21. ↑ [EIA electric power monthly, February 2013]
  22. ↑ "EIA Electric Power Monthly, December 2013". PDF. U.S. Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy. February 21, 2010. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  23. ↑ Jackson, David (March 12, 2015). "Report: Wind power could be 35% of supply by 2050". USAToday. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  24. ↑ "EIA Electric Power Monthly, February, 2017". PDF (report). U.S. Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy. March 24, 2017. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  25. ↑ "MidAmerican Energy completes two major wind projects totaling more than 1.2 GW". WTWH Media, LLC. February 5, 2016. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  26. ↑ Chernova, Yuliya (October 19, 2009). "The Answer Is Blowing in…Iowa". The Wall Street Journal.
  27. ↑ NREL Eastern Area Wind Energy Study
  28. ↑ Transmission Line Proposed for Iowa
  29. ↑ Iowa's Biggest Economic Project Ever, nbcnews.com
  30. ↑ Midamerican Energy announces construction of wind projects in Iowa – Iowa Energy Center
  31. ↑ Buffet's $1 billion order shows wind power rivals coal energy, Business week
  32. ↑ Work Starts on 340 MW Iowa Wind Farm
  33. ↑ Sites Named for MidAmerican Wind Project
  34. ↑ High winds bring milestone for Iowa, AP, Oct. 28, 2017. Carried in the Des Moines Register, Washington Times
  35. ↑ Donnelle Eller, MidAmerican Hits 100% Renewable Energy. Des Moines Register, Oct. 11, 2023. As reprinted on msn.com.
  36. ↑ Mid-American's busy 2014 construction year, Cherokee Chronicle Times
  37. 1 2 3 Iowa Office of Energy Independence
  38. ↑ "Iowa Wind Energy Fact Sheet" (PDF). PDF (report). Iowa Environmental Council. March 2016. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  39. 1 2 "Wind Energy in Iowa" (PDF). American Wind Energy Association. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  40. ↑ Siemens produces 5,000th blade at Fort Madison facility
  41. ↑ Siemens' Fort Madison facility facts
  42. ↑ "EIA – Electricity Data". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  43. ↑ Google buys power from Iowa wind farm
  44. ↑ Victory I – Iowa
  45. ↑ dead link
  46. ↑ Iberdrola Renewables Supplies 50 Megawatts to We Energies from Barton Wind Power Project
  47. ↑ Iowa wind farms supported by USDA Renewable Energy Program
  48. 1 2 3 Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative Lakota and Superior projects
  49. 1 2 Superior wind farm
  50. 1 2 3 "RPMAccess Projects". RPMAccess. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  51. 1 2 HIll, Joshua (13 February 2018). "MidAmerican Energy Completes Beaver Creek & Prairie Wind Farms In Iowa Totaling 338 Megawatts". CleanTechnica. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  52. ↑ "Electric Power Monthly". U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  53. ↑ "WINDExchange: Installed and Potential Wind Power Capacity and Generation". U.S. Department of Energy. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  54. ↑ "Market Report 2021". American Clean Power Association. May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
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