Iowa Looks to Increase Wind Power, Expand Grid Capacity

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Planners in Iowa want to increase the portion of wind-generated power in the state to 40% by 2020, and they are studying how to improve and upgrade the electrical infrastructure to expand the grid capacity. This is needed to move the renewable wind generation to load centers in Iowa and neighboring states that may need the additional capacity. The state is awaiting regulatory approvals to build a 500-kilovolt (kV), high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line, which would be capable of moving 3,500 MW of wind-derived power from Iowa to Illinois.

Industrial Info is tracking 11 wind-power projects in Iowa, representing 2,418 megawatts (MW), with a total investment value of $4.44 billion. Industrial Info's database includes details on 47 operational windfarms in Iowa, capable of generating more than 5,000 MW..

Iowa has a higher percentage of wind-derived power than any other state. Wind farms in the Hawkeye State produce 5,708 MW, equal to 28.5% of its electricity demand. Texas and California lead the U.S. in overall wind energy, producing 14,208 MW and 5,914 MW, respectively.

Iowa needs about 2,300 MW of additional wind generation to meet the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) (Washington D.C.) Clean Power Plan and reduce carbon emissions by 16%. The plan requires states to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by an average of 30% by 2030.

Iowa is located in the Midwest market region, which also includes Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. Industrial Info is tracking 92 wind projects with a total investment value of more than $29 billion in the region.

The Senate Finance Committee recently approved legislation to extend the wind production tax credit by two years. The bill now awaits action by the full Senate. Should it clear the Senate, the extension still needs the approval of the House of Representatives and the president's signature to become law.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 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.