MRES wind project completed with no rate impact to customers

When representatives of Missouri River Energy Services, Worthington Public Utilities, and Wisconsin Public Power, Inc., broke ground on a wind turbine project near Worthington, Minn., on April 30, it was the beginning of a productive partnership that will bring the area 3.6 MW of nonpolluting electricity—enough energy for about 1,000 average-sized households.

"By taking advantage of wind power development incentives from the state of Minnesota and the Federal government, MRES developed the Worthington project with no cost impact to its members," Keegel said.

Generator housings, blades, and towers arrived the first week of June, and foundations were poured soon after. WPU completed work on a 2.5-mile, 12.47-kV distribution feeder line and constructed a road to the site. Final substation upgrades were completed July 11 and all four turbines were operating on July 15.

MRES Senior Resource Engineer DeWayne Keegel said, "We are especially proud of this project because we were able to complete it in such a timely manner and bring an alternative energy choice for our customers' electricity needs. The partners each contributed their expertise to make the project come in on time and within budget."

The project was built under the new MRES RiverWinds program. RiverWinds built two 900-kW wind turbines two miles west of Worthington for MRES member use. MRES coordinated construction of two identical wind turbines at the WPPI-owned site. WPPI is a joint-action agency serving 37 public power member communities in Wisconsin. MRES supplies power to 56 cities in Minnesota, Iowa and the Dakotas.

Each of the four turbines stands 325 feet from ground to turbine blade tip. Each 900-kW turbine can produce enough power to serve more than 250 average single-family homes.

Output from the two WPPI turbines serves its members and retail customers as part of the agency's renewable energy program, providing member utility customers with an option to purchase all or a portion of their electricity each month from renewable sources.