More wind turbines are coming to Iowa. Alliant Energy announced plans for a one-billion-dollar project to expand the Whispering Willow Wind Farm in Franklin County and possibly develop wind energy in other areas of the state. Meanwhile, in northwest Iowa, Tradewind Energy Development Manager Jeff Hammond has released details about a pair of projects. The “North Star” project — primarily in Dickinson County — would involve 70 turbines creating 140 megawatts of power.
A transmission line is going up in Palo Alto County as part of the projects. Hammond expects the new wind turbines will create up to 15 permanent jobs, plus 150 construction jobs.
The RedRock Wind Project is called the largest community wind farm in the state of Iowa. The state of Iowa, last year, generated over 31 percent of its electricity from wind power, ranking first in the nation. Iowa now ranks second in the country for “installed capacity,” according to the American Wind Energy Association.
