Jan 5 2010
Construction of the 149 megawatt Rugby Wind Power Project near Rugby, North Dakota has been completed by Iberdrola Renewables. The project cost amounted to about $300 million. The operations building, 16.4 miles of road and 71 wind turbines were built with the help of 250 construction workers. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimated that 809 jobs were available during the construction process and another 29 jobs will be created during the operating process of the Rugby project. This estimation was based on NREL’s Jobs and Economic Development Impact model, which takes into consideration the supply chain and other related factors.
Iberdrola Renewables donated $8,000 to the Rugby Endowment Community Fund as part of its celebration for the completion of the Rugby Wind Power Project. The Rugby Endowment Community Fund supports charity organizations that include Good Samaritan Health Services Foundation, Tri-County Meals, the Heart of America Library, Growing Place Day Care, Rugby High School, Geographical Center Historical Society, Food Pantry, Village Arts, Rugby Amateur Hockey Association and Pierce County Fair.
Galen Mack, advisory member of Rugby Community Fund, remarked that the donation from Iberdrola Renewables enabled the Rugby Endowment Community Fund to maximize a similar donation from the Bremer Foundation. This donation, according to Mack, will also help the local charities.
Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) purchases about 40 MW from the Rugby project, which is enough to supply sufficient power to 11,000 MRES homes. MRES located in Sioux Falls consists of 60 member communities in the states of South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. Local electric distribution systems are owned and operated by these MRES member communities. The remaining output is marketed by Iberdrola Renewables.
Source: www.iberdrolarenewables.us/