MidAmerican Energy has placed an order with Siemens Energy, Inc. for 258 of its 2.3-megawatt turbines, to be erected in Iowa during 2011.
MidAmerican Energy has also entered into an asset purchase agreement with RPM Access under which it will acquire the Laurel Wind Project from RPM, where approximately 52 of the Siemens turbines are planned to be located.
“We are pleased to move forward with these wind energy projects in Iowa.” said Bill Fehrman, president of MidAmerican Energy. “The projects make good economic sense for Iowa and our customers as the state continues to benefit from the construction of additional renewable energy generating capacity.”
Fehrman said the wind projects will have a positive economic impact for local communities during construction and beyond. “There are numerous economic benefits on projects like these, including the capital investment by MidAmerican Energy, construction jobs, long-term maintenance jobs, annual payments to landowners and property tax revenues,” he said.
The order for 258 of Siemens’ wind turbines comes less than a month after Siemens announced the official opening if its new wind turbine nacelle assembly facility in Hutchinson, Kansas.
"These wind turbines will be produced in our factories in Fort Madison, Iowa, and in Hutchinson, Kansas, and will supply secure and environmentally friendly energy to 190,000 average US households," said Rene Umlauft, CEO of Siemens Renewable Energy Division.
Siemens' Hutchinson plant, which had its grand opening on 3 December, is the company's only North American plant for producing the nacelles, which contain all the equipment for turning wind power into electricity, while the Fort Madison plant produces the giant blades for the turbines.
Delivery of the turbines to the Laurel, Rolling Hills and Pomeroy wind farms in Iowa is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2011 and be completed by early 2012, Siemens said.
Siemens will also provide service and maintenance for the three wind farms as part of the contract.
