Iowa

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

Ensuring State Emission Reduction in Clean Power Plan

Strong public policy favors giving states credit for the carbon reductions they make while the Plan’s legality is pending.

MidAmerican Energy’s New Iowa Wind Farm to Feature Concrete Tower

MidAmerican Energy Company's new wind farm in Adams County, Iowa will include a first for the company - a concrete wind turbine tower. MidAmerican Energy has contracted with Siemens for the supply and construction of its new concrete tower design. The 2.3-MW concrete tower turbine at the Adams wind farm will measure 377 feet from ground to hub, compared to 263 feet for most of the turbines in use at other MidAmerican Energy wind farms. The concrete turbine is one of 64 wind turbines planned for the Adams wind farm.

Commenting on Carbon

State PUCs take on EPA and its Clean Power Plan.

Everything about the Clean Power Plan seems surreal. States complain of unfair treatment. Regulators read the proposed rule and sound warnings of a coming apocalypse.

ALLETTE Acquires Wind Farm from NRG Energy

ALLETE Clean Energy (ALLETE) finalized the acquisition of Storm Lake 1, a wind generation facility in Storm Lake, Iowa, adding another 108 MW to its renewable energy portfolio. ALLETE paid $15 million to NRG Energy to acquire the facility, which is adjacent to Storm Lake 2, a 78-MW wind farm purchased by ALLETE earlier this year. Both Storm Lake installations use 750 kW Zond turbines and are adjacent to each other in northwest Iowa.

MidAmerican Energy to Supply Wind Power to Google Data Center

Google and MidAmerican Energy (MidAmerican) established an agreement for MidAmerican to supply Google's Council Bluffs, Iowa data center with up to 407 MW of wind-sourced energy. The wind power will come from several wind projects that are part of MidAmerican's Wind VIII program, an initiative under which MidAmerican will bring 1,050 MW of new Iowa wind power online by the end of 2015.

Results-Based Regulation

A more dynamic approach to grid modernization.

The utility’s role is changing, and regulation must change along with it – to spur innovation and respond to evolving customer needs. Modernizing the industry will require a dynamic approach.

ALLETE Clean Energy Finalizes Acquisition of Wind Farms for $27M

ALLETE Clean Energy (ALLETE) finalized the purchase of wind farms in Minnesota, Iowa and Oregon from AES. ALLETE acquired the operating wind energy projects for $27 million and all three wind farms - with a total output of 231 MW - have PPAs in place for their entire electric output. ALLETE also signed in November an option agreement to acquire a fourth wind farm from AES in mid-2015. Pursuant to that option agreement, ALLETE will have an option to acquire the 101MW Armenia Mountain, Penn., wind farm.

Putting a Price on Carbon

How EPA can establish a U.S. GHG Program for the Electricity Sector.

With the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards expected in June 2014, many states are considering their own approaches to provide flexibility in meeting compliance requirements. Experience in North America to date provides policy guidance.

Siemens Awarded Largest Onshore Wind Power Order to Date

Siemens received an order from MidAmerican Energy for the supply of 448 wind turbines. With a total capacity of 1,050 MW, this represents not only the largest order for onshore wind turbines for Siemens, but also the largest single order for onshore wind power awarded globally to date. The wind turbines, each with a nominal rating of 2.3 MW and a rotor diameter of 108 meters, are to be installed in five different projects in Iowa. Siemens will also be responsible for service and maintenance of the wind turbines.