Iowa Will Add 1.05GW New Wind Energy Capacity By 2015

[jpak]

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/08/14/iowa-will-add-1-06gw-new-wind-energy-capacity-by-2015/

Iowa will add 1.05 gigawatts of new wind energy capacity by 2015, thanks to the Iowa Utilities Board’s approval of a $1.9 billion proposal from MidAmerican Energy.

Regulatory approval of the Wind VII project paves the way for construction to start as soon as September 2013. The wind farm sites have already secured development and grid interconnection rights, and will bring hundreds of green jobs and millions in revenue to landowners and the government.

<snip>

In fact, the economic benefits of Wind VII may actually outweigh the environmental aspects. The project will create 460 construction jobs and an estimated payroll of $30 million over two years. Once built, the turbines will support 48 permanent green jobs and an estimated $2.4 million payroll.

With time, Wind VII will cut electricity bills for MidAmerican ratepayers. The utility is Iowa’s largest, with roughly 734,000 electric service customers, and the expansion will be built at no net cost to customers. After the first 350 megawatts of new generation capacity are installed, a $3.3 million rate reduction will take effect. By 2017, the rate reduction will increase to $10 million per year.

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Read more at http://cleantechnica.com/2013/08/14/iowa-will-add-1-06gw-new-wind-energy-capacity-by-2015/#AFYlTBF1rmDHuaOd.99

[liberal N proud]

1. Environmental aspects?

Green energy, renewable and they suggest it outweighs environmental aspects?

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. “economic benefits”

…

“In fact, the economic benefits of Wind VII may actually outweigh the environmental aspects. …”

So, the writer is saying, “Yes it has environmental impacts, but it also helps the area economically!” (To some, that is more important.)

[liberal N proud]

3. Yes, they are trying to say it has environmental impact.

It wouldn't take too much to overcome sticking a 10 foot diameter at the base tower in a corn field.

As opposed to say fracking which the media will try and tell us is environmentally safe.

[FBaggins]

4. There's such a thing as a positive impact

I doubt that they're saying that this one "good" outweighs a "bad"... I think they're saying that it has a good impact on the environment, but that the economic impact could be better.

[liberal N proud]

5. Maybe but there has been so many attacks on green tech.

I grew up in Iowa and that area has hundreds of wind turbines. I once overheard in a restaurant, some one blamed the wind on these things and another was going on about them killing birds. I almost spit my drink when I heard those quotes.