Iowa leads in electricity produced by wind
The Gazette
April 2, 2008
www.gazetteonline.com
Iowa is first in the nation in terms of wind generation as a percentage of all electricity produced in the state, according to a new report from the American Wind Energy Association.
Iowa gets 5.5 percent of its electricity from wind turbines, topping Minnesota (4.6 percent), New Mexico (3.9 percent), Oregon (3.5 percent) and South Dakota (2.6 percent).
Gov. Chet Culver hailed the ranking as evidence that his administration's support for the wind industry is paying dividends for Iowa.
"Our investment is paying off for Iowans with hundreds of green collar jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars invested in our communities," Culver said. "Iowa is positioned to become the renewable energy capital of the U.S."
Culver noted that five major wind generation manufacturers have decided to locate or expand in the state — Acciona, Siemens, Clipper, Hendricks and TPI Composites.
Clipper Windpower over the last year has expanded its wind turbine assembly plant in southwest Cedar Rapids. Siemens Power Generation in February announced plans to invest $33 million to expand its wind turbine blade plant in Fort Madison.
Acciona Energy North America will eventually employ 110 people to assemble wind turbines at its new $23.6 million plant in West Branch. And TPI Composites Inc. of Warren, R.I., has begun construction on a 316,000-square-foot factory in Newton to make the blades for General Electric Energy's 15-megawatt wind turbines.
"Together, we're building the 'Silicon Valley of the Midwest' by developing the next generation of renewable energy and technology," Culver said. |
