Wisconsin Power and Light (Alliant Energy) plans to expand its Bent Tree Wind Farm with the Bent Tree North Wind Farm project. Though located in Minnesota, the project will provide power for Alliant Energy customers here in Wisconsin. RENEW Wisconsin is advocating for approval of this project both in Minnesota and here in Wisconsin, as Alliant Energy requires approval from both the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
In its first full year of electricity production, Bent Tree North Wind Farm will produce about 550,000 Megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity. This is enough to power 55,000 Wisconsin households and reduce emissions produced from energy production by more than 865 million pounds of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) each year. This amount of CO2 would be like taking more than 85,500 vehicles off the road.
Along with CO2 emissions, there are a slew of pollutants that this project will keep out of the air we breathe. As a result, Wisconsin can expect over $1.8 million in economic benefits associated with public health improvements in the first year of Bent Tree North Wind’s operations.
Similar to Wisconsin, Minnesota communities that host utility-scale energy projects benefit from these projects. Bent Tree North will add 150 Megawatts (MW) to the already existing Bent Tree Wind Farm, a 201 MW project. In Minnesota, wind projects are subject to a Wind Energy Production Tax. At about $19,000 per turbine, Bent Tree North will add nearly $650,000 in revenue to be split among Steele, Waseca, and Freeborn Counties. Additional financial benefit will go to the landowners who are leasing their land to make this project possible.
The construction of the project is expected to create 100 to 150 full-time jobs until the project is operational. Additionally, construction workers will contribute to local spending for housing, fuel, meals, and supplies, and construction materials such as concrete and gravel are often sourced locally or regionally.
Though we don’t typically extend our advocacy beyond the borders of our state, this is a great opportunity for both Wisconsin and Minnesota, even if we can’t see eye-to-eye on where Paul Bunyan’s Axe really belongs. Rivalries aside, we look forward to seeing this project approved and will provide an update when we know more!