|
Ribbon-cutting at Pioneer Prairie Wind Farm near McIntire
by David Namanny, Press-News Editor
Horizon Wind Energy, LLC, a wind project developer, set in motion its first turbine at its Pioneer Prairie wind project in Mitchell and Howard counties last Friday afternoon.
A ribbon-cutting celebration for the new wind farm took place just off of Addision Avenue between McIntire and Riceville. Among those attending the invite-only event were Mitchell County Economic Development Director Brenda Dryer, State Rep. Mark Kuhn, State Senator Amanda Ragan, Mitchell County Supervisors Stan Walk, Joel Voaklander and Bob Marreel, as well as Rick Bodensteiner of Home Trust and Savings Bank, County Assessor Dean Pohren and County Sanitarian Mark Ross.
Once fully operational, the wind farm will have an installed capacity of 300.3 megawatts of renewable energy, with enough power to provide more than 90,000 Iowa homes with energy.
Horizon operates the Prairie Star Wind Farm in Mower County, Minnesota, which opened in 2007 and provides 100 megawatts of generating capacity, enough to meet the needs of 30,000 homes.
"Pioneer Prairie will be the second major project for Horizon in the Upper Midwest, following the successful development of Prairie Star last year," Gabriel Alonso, Chief Operating Officer of Horizon, added. "The Pioneer Prairie Wind Farm will bring significant benefits to its surrounding communities, including the creation of employment opportunities and a clean source of electricity."
The wind farm will consist of 182 Vesta turbines. Each turbine is 262 feet high at the turbine hub with a rotor that is 269 feet in diameter and the overall height is 398 feet.
Approximately 300 landowners participate under long-term lease and easement agreements that cover turbines, access roads, transmission corridors and wind access.
Now fully operational, the Pioneer Prairie Wind Farm will prevent the annual emission of 900,000 tons of carbon dioxide, a contributor to climate change; 3.5 million pounds of nitrogen oxide, which causes smog; and nearly 6 million pounds of sulfur dioxide, which causes acid rain.
In addition, the Wind Farm will displace 48,000 pounds of mercury each year. The environmental benefits are equivalent to taking 90,000 cars off of the road.
Horizon Wind Energy develops, constructs, owns and operates wind farms throughout North America. The company is owned by EDP Renováveis S.A., based in Lisbon, Portugal.
Horizon also hosted an open house for the opening of its Minneapolis development office on Thursday.
About Pioneer Prairie Wind Farm
The Pioneer Prairie Wind Farm ribbon cutting will celebrate the commissioning of the first turbine, with the full 300.3 MW in full operations in spring 2009.
Story created Sep 30, 2008 - 11:55:48 CDT.
|
