On April 21, Alliant Energy announced the unanimous approval of the Bent Tree North Wind project. The 153-megawatt (MW) wind project will include 32 wind turbines and expand on the existing Bent Tree Wind Farm, which has been operating successfully since 2011. Since the project is located in Minnesota but will send power to Wisconsin, it required approval in both states.
Upon completion, the Bent Tree North Wind project is expected to generate enough electricity to power about 50,000 homes each year. This expansion of Alliant’s renewable energy portfolio is a win for Wisconsin residents in terms of both energy affordability and grid reliability.
More renewable energy means less reliance on fossil fuels, which at times experience volatile pricing, and diversifies our energy resources. This helps keep energy prices from rising and gives us more options for keeping the lights on.
And while this project will reduce the carbon footprint of our state’s electricity production, it will also be economically beneficial to the region where it is hosted. It is expected that the local area will see $100 million in local economic benefits over the project’s 30‑year (or so) life. Some of these benefits will come in the form of tax revenue, landowner payments, and wages for the 100-150 construction jobs the project will support.
The turbines used for the project will also support the economies in the Midwest. Alliant Plans to use Nordex N133s, a 4.8 MW turbine, which has several key components constructed at Nordex’s Iowa facility.
The turbines are also designed to produce more energy per tower, resulting in less disturbance to the land hosting the project. Standing at an impressively tall 606 feet, the towers are able to support larger rotors, which in turn increases energy production and efficiency. This means more energy at a lower cost.
We’re glad we were able to show our support for a project that fights climate change, boosts local economies, and helps keep Wisconsin’s utility bills more stable. If you want to learn more about this project and some of the other things Alliant Energy has cooking, check out their efforts here—Alliant’s Wind Generation