Dec 15 2009
Commercial operation in the Whispering Willow Wind Farm-East in Franklin County has been initiated by Interstate Power and Light (IPL), a subsidiary unit of Alliant Energy Corporation. This wind farm in Iowa is the first to be owned and operated by Interstate Power and Light. The wind farm is capable of generating emission-free wind energy of up to 200 megawatts, which is enough to power almost 50,000 homes.
The construction process of Whispering Willow Wind Farm-East started in the fall of the year 2008. The project consists of 121 wind turbines and is spread over 144 square miles in Franklin County, Iowa. In the next 20 years, Interstate Power and Light expects Whispering Willow Wind Farm-East to offset 7,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, 2 million tons of carbon dioxide, 0.5 ton of mercury and 2,600 tons of nitrogen oxides.
Bill Havey, President, Chairman and Chief Executive of Alliant Energy, remarked that it was an important day for the company, environment and the customers.
Tom Aller, President of IPL, remarked that the company’s investment in Whispering Willow Wind Farm-East will enable the company to maintain a balance in providing customers with affordable energy and simultaneously insisting the use of new technologies to bring about reductions of the company’s impact on the environment. Aller expressed his gratitude for the support received from the residents and community leaders of the Franklin County throughout the entire process.
The American Wind Energy Association has given Iowa the second position in wind capacity installation. Wisconsin Power and Light Company, a subsidiary unit of Alliant Energy plans to include extra wind power of 200 megawatts to its portfolio during the year 2011. This will be carried out at the company’s Bent Tree Phase I project in Southern Minnesota.
Source: http://www.alliantenergy.com/index.htm