Iowa to house largest land wind farm

DES MOINES, Iowa – A power company controlled by billionaire investor Warren Buffett said it plans to build the largest land- based wind farm in the world.

By News Wire Reports Rocky Mountain News

The $323 million, 310-megawatt project would be built by -MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. The farm, with 180 to 200 wind turbines, will encompass 200 acres of northern Iowa farm fields, Mid- American said Tuesday.

The farm would have the capacity to generate electricity for more than 300,000 homes on completion, which is expected in 2006.

"Today we’re here to announce the largest wind facility to be constructed in the world will be built in Iowa, said Greg Abel, company president.

The world’s largest wind facility is now located in Washington and Oregon and produces 300 megawatts of electricity, Abel said.

The project will place Iowa third in the nation for wind energy production behind California and Texas.

Farmers where the turbines will be located will be paid about $4,000 a year for each turbine, Abel said.

Abel said new technology – today’s turbines are 15 times more efficient than those made in the 1980s – has made wind energy more cost-effective.

http://www.insidedenver.com/drmn/business/article/0,1299,DRMN_4_1839592,00.html