MidAmerican Energy has cleared the final regulatory hurdle for a $3.6 billion wind expansion that will add 1,000 turbines across Iowa, positioning the state to source 85% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2020. The Iowa Utilities Board granted approval last Friday, allowing the company to move forward with the project, known as Wind XI.
The timing is critical: the early green light lets MidAmerican take full advantage of the federal wind production tax credit, which was recently extended. Nathaniel, energy program director at the Iowa Environment Council, said in a statement that the approval "helps ensure MidAmerican can take full advantage" of the credit, a policy the council supports.
Each of the 1,000 towers will rise 115.5 meters (379 feet), placing them among the tallest turbines in the United States. The company says construction will begin soon, with completion expected by the end of 2019.
Scaling Up From 47% to 85%
Wind XI is the largest wind project MidAmerican has ever undertaken, according to spokeswoman Ashton Hockman. It will add up to 2,000 megawatts of wind generation capacity, enough to power roughly 500,000 typical homes. The company's existing wind farms already provide 47% of its Iowa sales, and with projects already in the pipeline, that figure is expected to reach 58% next year.
The expansion is part of MidAmerican's long-term goal of running Iowa entirely on renewable energy. Once Wind XI is operational, the company projects it will meet 85% of its customers' electricity needs from wind power alone.
Iowa already ranks second among U.S. states for net electricity generation from wind, with more than 31% of its total energy output coming from wind last year. The new turbines could push the state closer to the top of that list, though no timeline has been set for that milestone.
The project has drawn support from environmental groups, who see it as a major step toward reducing carbon emissions. But it also reflects a broader trend: as wind technology improves and costs fall, utilities across the Midwest are increasingly turning to renewables to meet both environmental targets and customer demand.
For Iowa, the economic impact is significant. Wind XI is being billed as the state's largest economic development project, creating construction jobs and long-term maintenance positions. The company has not disclosed specific job numbers, but the scale of the build-out suggests a substantial workforce will be needed over the next two years.
MidAmerican's push aligns with a national pattern: wind power accounted for 6% of U.S. electricity generation in 2016, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and that share is growing. Iowa's experience could serve as a model for other states looking to expand their renewable portfolios.
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