Franklin County Wind LLC, a non-regulated subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation, will own and operate the Franklin County Wind Farm, located in Franklin County, Iowa near Interstate Power and Light Company’s Whispering Willow Wind Farm-East site. The Franklin County Wind Farm will consist of 60 turbines capable of producing nearly 100 MW of energy, enough to power about 24,000 homes.
After the project was announced, a groundbreaking ceremony was held August 8, 2011. Landowners were joined by local leaders, Alliant Energy representatives, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley.
Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2012 and commercial operation is anticipated by the end of 2012.
Franklin County Wind Farm Facts
- The wind farm spans approximately 18,000 acres
- There are 60 turbines, each is capable of producing approximately 1.65 megawatts of emissions-free energy
- Height of turbine from base to tip of blade pointing straight up = 397 feet
- Distance from the ground to the hub = 262 feet
- Each blade is approximately 131 feet long and weighs about 15,000 pounds
- The total weight of each turbine including the tower, hub and blades is more than 480,000 pounds
- Power generation begins at 9 miles per hour with a maximum power generation of 27 miles per hour
- The wind turbines can produce power approximately 90 percent of the time, depending upon sustainable wind speeds and electric grid needs
Questions and Answers
Where is the wind farm site?
The Franklin County Wind Farm is located in Franklin County, Iowa, near Hampton.
What is the timeline for this project?
Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2012 with commercial operation by the end of 2012.
Who will operate the Franklin County Wind Farm?
Franklin County Wind LLC, a non-regulated subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation will operate the Franklin County Wind Farm.
Who is going to build this wind farm for Franklin County Wind LLC?
Franklin County Wind LLC, a non-regulated subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation, plans to have a competitive bid balance of plant work for construction of the Franklin County Wind Farm.
How many turbines will there be at the Franklin County Wind Farm?
The Franklin County Wind Farm will consist of 60 Vestas V82 1.65 megawatt turbines.
How much electricity will be generated by the Franklin County Wind Farm?
The Franklin County Wind Farm will be capable of producing nearly 100 megawatts of emissions-free energy. That’s enough to power approximately 25,000 homes.
Who will get the energy generated by the Franklin County Wind Farm?
Franklin County Wind LLC, a non-regulated subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation, plans to sell the power through a PPA and/or into the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) market, but at this time it has not been determined who the buyer(s) will be.
What is the expected economic impact to Franklin County from this wind farm?
The construction of the Franklin County Wind Farm will have a positive impact on both Iowa’s and the local economy. We anticipate this project will create approximately 300 jobs during the construction process and once the Franklin County Wind Farm is operational there will be approximately 10 new permanent jobs to support wind farm operations. In addition to the money being spent locally during construction, the Franklin County Wind Farm will also benefit Franklin County’s tax base through the property taxes that Franklin County Wind LLC will pay in the future.
How much will this project cost and will customers have to pay for it through their rates?
The cost of developing the Franklin County Wind Farm is expected to be approximately $235 million. Since this facility is being built by Franklin County Wind LLC is a non-regulated subsidiary of Alliant Energy Corporation, this wind farm will not be included in base utility rates.