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MidAmerican proposes 591 MW of wind to reach 100% renewable vision in Iowa

After building 2,000 MW of wind as part of its Wind XI project in Iowa, MidAmerican Energy Co. has proposed another 591 MW under Wind XII to reach its vision of supplying 100% of its electric customers' demand in the state with renewable power.

The subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy on May 30 said it would file an application with the Iowa Utilities Board proposing the Wind XII project, which would require another $922 million in investment. The project is slated for completion in 2020.

MidAmerican in 2016, the same year it launched Wind XI, announced a vision to have enough renewable generation to serve its electric demand in Iowa, but the Wind XI project, which is expected to be done by late 2019, would have supplied about 90% of Iowa customers with renewable power, according to MidAmerican's website.

"Wind XII will transform our 100 percent renewable energy vision from a bold dream into a reality," MidAmerican Energy's President and CEO Adam Wright said, adding that the project has shown that the company has been able to invest in renewables while keeping electric rates affordable.

In April, Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Vice President of Government Relations Jonathan Weisgall told Greenbiz.com that the falling costs of wind and solar as well as customers demanding more clean energy are driving the utility to seek more renewables, according to an April 17 article.

Like Wind XI, the Wind XII capacity would spread across multiple projects in the state. The Des Moines, Iowa-based company said it was exploring potential sites to build the project and will announce the locations prior to construction.

MidAmerican Energy's energy portfolio also includes natural gas, nuclear and coal-fired plants, but it plans to use this generation to balance periods of low wind, according to its press release.

Wind XI includes the 170-MW Beaver Creek Wind Project (Wind XI) and 168-MW Mahaska Prairie Wind Project (Wind XI) project, which MidAmerican started operating in the fourth quarter of 2017. It also includes the 340-MW at the North English Wind Project (Wind XI), which MidAmerican plans to start operating by the end of 2018. On May 1, the company also said it plans to start building two wind projects, totaling 550 MW, this summer in southwest Iowa as part of Wind XI.

Wind energy is a significant resource in Iowa, supplying about 37% of the state's total electric generation in 2017, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, said in a statement: "We believe to our core that it is our responsibility to use the resources we are given in the best way possible. It's that sustainable approach that has led Iowa to achieve the highest percentage of power generation coming from wind energy, more than any other state."

MidAmerican said it expects Wind XII to create 300 construction jobs and 28 operations and maintenance jobs. In addition, the project will provide about $6.9 million a year to the state in property tax payments and $5.6 million a year to landowners.