Alliant Energy and EDF Renewables announced that the 200 megawatt (MW) Golden Plains Wind Project achieved commercial operation on March 27 and is now delivering cost-effective, clean electricity to Iowa customers.
Located in Winnebago and Kossuth counties in north-central Iowa, the Golden Plains Wind Farm was developed and constructed by EDF Renewables. The farm’s 82 wind turbines will generate enough clean energy to power an average of 73,000 homes per year.
“Wind energy is a win for Iowans,” said Terry Kouba, President of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy company. “This project benefits customers and the environment through reductions in emissions and fuel costs. It also gives landowners lease payments, and it helps communities through increased local tax revenue for schools and community services.”
The project injected millions of dollars into the local economy and employed hundreds of workers at the peak of construction.
“We are pleased to partner with Alliant Energy to deliver competitively-priced, clean energy to its customers through the Golden Plains Wind Project,” said Kate O’Hair, Vice President Development, North Region at EDF Renewables. “The project provides an economic boost to the Iowa economy through new construction and operations jobs, expanded tax base and recurring, long-term income for participating landowners.”
By the end of 2020, Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy company expects to own and operate 1,299 megawatts of wind generation in Iowa. This expansion plans to provide enough renewable energy to power 430,000 homes per year, create hundreds of jobs during construction, generate hundreds of millions in local property taxes throughout the life of the wind farms and pay hundreds of millions of dollars in lease payments to landowners.
Alliant Energy’s target is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 40% by the year 2030 across their entire service area in Iowa and Wisconsin.
