Alliant Energy Wind Farm Gets Go-Ahead from Minnesota, Wisconsin Regulators

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Written by Eric Funderburk for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

Alliant Energy's 150-megawatt Bent Tree North wind farm in Minnesota has been given the green light by regulators in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, paving the way for construction to begin.

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Permission Granted

Regulators in both Minnesota and Wisconsin have given unanimous approval for construction of Alliant Energy's 150-megawat (MW) Bent Tree North wind farm to proceed. The wind farm will be built in Minnesota's Freeborn County, next to Alliant's existing 200-MW Bent Tree wind farm. Freeborn County is in the extreme south of the state, bordering Iowa, but the project required approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin because power from the project will be delivered to Wisconsin homes.

But Bent Tree North isn't the only wind farm on Alliant's planning table. According to Industrial Info Resources data, Alliant is considering constructing four other wind farms in Wisconsin and Iowa valued at more than US$1 billion.

Freeborn & Winnebago Counties Activity

The Bent Tree North wind farm in Freeborn County is Alliant's only planned Minnesota wind farm. The estimated US$250 million project is expected to take a little more than a year to construct and will include 34 Vestas wind turbines. Subscribers to the Industrial Info Resources Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database can click here to see the project report.

Another planned Alliant project isn't too far away and also involves a wind farm--albeit somewhat indirectly. In Winnebago County, Iowa, which borders Freeborn County to the south, Alliant is considering a 75-MW battery energy storage system (BESS) to accompany the operational 198-MW Golden Plains wind farm. The project potentially could kick off this summer, taking a little less than year to complete.

Significant Move on Wisconsin Wind Farm

Alliant made a significant move on one of its largest planned wind farms in December when it filed an application with Wisconsin's Public Service Commission to construct the 277-MW Columbia wind farm in Columbia County, Wisconsin. Industrial Info Resources has tracked the project since 2023.

The wind farm is expected to include 40 wind turbines, each rated at around 7 MW and is expected to begin construction next year. Subscribers can click here to learn more about the project.

Industrial Info Resources is tracking 30 Alliant projects across Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, including wind, solar and natural gas and transmission projects valued at $4.5 billion. Industrial Info tracks Power Industry project data across the world to provide opportunities to traders, equipment and service providers and others.

Key Takeaways

• Alliant Energy has secured permission from Minnesota and Wisconsin regulators to construct a 150-MW wind farm in Freeborn County, Minnesota.
• The Bent Tree North wind farm will include 40 turbines.
• Industrial Info is tracking more than $1.9 billion worth of planned projects at existing and proposed Alliant wind farms.

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About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 trillion (USD).