Iowa gets about 27 percent of energy from wind, report says

Source: Des Moines Register • Posted: Thursday, March 6, 2014

Iowa received about 27 percent of its energy from wind generation last year, placing it first in the nation, ahead of South Dakota at 26 percent, a new report today shows.

The American Wind Energy Association said Iowa generated enough wind last year to power 1.4 million homes, second only to Texas, which generated enough wind energy to power 3.3 million homes.

Iowa has 5,117 megawatts of installed wind energy capacity, with 1,055 megawatts under construction.

The report said Iowa ranks third in the nation for the number of jobs — up to 7,000 direct and indirect, based on 2012 data — that are tied wind generation. Iowa wind companies include Siemens and TPI Composites, the maker of blades, and Trinity Structural Towers, the maker of towers.

The group said Iowa landowners receive about $16 million annually in lease payments for wind generation.

The Washington, D.C., advocacy group said that American wind power topped 4 percent of the U.S. power grid for the first time last year and has delivered 30 percent of all new generating capacity for the last five years.

MidAmerican Energy announced last year that it is investing nearly $2 billion in new wind generation capacity.