Wind Fuels $7 Billion+ in U.S. Midwest Power Industry Kickoffs in Second Quarter

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Industrial Info is tracking more than $7 billion in Power Industry projects that are set to begin construction in the U.S. Midwest in second-quarter 2019, more than $4 billion of which is attributed to projects that Industrial Info assesses as having a high probability (81-99%) of kicking off as planned. Virtually all of the projects that are considered very likely to kick off are wind-power developments, another indication that renewables have a growing presence in the U.S. heartland.

Click on the image at right for a graph detailing the Power Industry's Midwest high-probability project kickoffs from April through June, by state.

The Midwest region includes Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska and South Dakota.

South Dakota leads other states in related investment value with two multi-phase projects: Xcel Energy's (NASDAQ:XEL) (Minneapolis, Minnesota) $575.5 million Crowned Ridge Wind Project and its $356 million second phase in Watertown, which would generate 303 and 296 MW, respectively, from 120 and 118 wind turbines; and AES Corporation's (NYSE:AES) (Arlington, Virginia) $297 million Prevailing Winds Windfarm and $8 million substation in Avon, which are expected to generate 220 MW from 30 Vestas turbines.

Both phases of the Crowned Ridge Wind Project are set to wrap up by the end of the year, while both Prevailing Winds phases are expected to be completed in first-quarter 2020. For more information, see Industrial Info's project reports on Crowned Ridge Phase I and Phase II, and the Prevailing Winds Windfarm and substation.

Iowa, traditionally the leading state in wind-power development, is not far behind South Dakota in its total investment value for projects likely to begin construction in the second quarter. A substantial portion of that is attributed to the Hawkeye State's largest power project, Alliant Energy Corporation's (NASDAQ:LNT) (Madison, Wisconsin) $400 million Golden Plains Windfarm near Lake Mills. The facility, which will be supported by a $10 million collector substation in Buffalo Center, will generate 200 MW from 81 GE wind turbines. It is expected to wrap up in the first quarter of 2020. For more information, see Industrial Info's project reports on the windfarm and substation.

About 175 miles southwest of Golden Plains, Invenergy LLC (Chicago, Illinois) plans to finish construction on its $330 million Ida Grove Windfarm in Ida County before the end of the year, with 130 GE turbines generating 300 MW. About 50 miles to the east of Ida Grove, MidAmerican Energy Company (Des Moines, Iowa), a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Corporation (NYSE:BRKA) (Omaha, Nebraska), is preparing for a $300 million repowering of its windfarm in Carroll, which will replace 100 GE turbines, which generate 150 MW, with more efficient models. For more information, see Industrial Info's reports on the Ida Grove and Carroll projects.

Minnesota is another state with heavy wind-energy investment, including The Rahn Group LLC's (Edina, Minnesota) $360 million Blazing Star Windfarm near Hendricks, which is expected to be generating 200 MW from 90 Vestas turbines before the end of the year. South of Minneapolis, Invenergy is preparing to begin construction on the $300 million Freeborn Wind Energy Center near Glenville, which is designed to generate 200 MW from 100 Vestas turbines. For more information, see Industrial Info's reports on the Blazing Star and Freeborn projects.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com/.