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Wind Power Media Kit

Wind power is the fastest-growing energy source in the world – and wind farms in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin are leading the way.

Alliant Energy is proud to be a national leader in the development and use of wind energy, purchasing electricity from more than 300 large-scale turbines located at 15 wind farms across the upper Midwest.

The information below provides an overview of how wind power works, how it’s used in the Midwest, and the impact it’s having on the environment.

Frequently asked questions about wind power
How a wind turbine works
Facts and figures about wind power
Brochures and fact sheets
More online resources

Related information available on our site includes an overview of our renewable energy portfolio and our long-term utility generation plan.

And don’t miss our online Wind Power Photo Gallery, with downloadable images of wind farms in Iowa and Wisconsin.

Frequently asked questions about wind power

Why use wind power?

Wind power is a free, non-polluting, renewable resource. No matter how much is used, there will still be a plentiful supply in the future.

What is a wind farm?

Wind farms are clusters of turbines that generate electricity. Wind is a free and renewable resource that produces clean energy – no emissions, no waste products. Wind farms are located in areas with reliably favorable wind speeds.

What causes wind?

The wind that turns the turbine blades is a form of solar energy. The sun warms the earth’s atmosphere unevenly, causing the air to move and swirl, creating wind.

For centuries, wind movement has been converted into mechanical power for low-tech jobs like watering cattle. Now, we can use it to efficiently turn high-tech turbines for electrical generation.

Does using wind power really make a difference for the environment?

Yes! A single utility-scale wind turbine can prevent the emission of 1,500 tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere per year. It would take a 500-acre forest to dissipate the same amount of CO₂ – a “greenhouse gas” that contributes to global warming.

Why does wind power cost more?

Facilities that use renewable resources to generate electricity are currently more expensive to build and operate. However, the cost of development power has decreased by 20 percent since the 1980s.

Increased customer demand for renewable energy should lead to the development of more renewable resources like wind, as well as lower prices. In addition, the federal Energy Production Tax Credit is helping utilities invest in new wind facilities.

Is Alliant Energy really committed to wind power, or is it just for the publicity?

We’re proud to be an industry leader in the development and use of wind power, and it’s a key element of our long-term generation plan.

In 2005, we added 150 MW of wind power from the Endeavor Wind Farm in Iowa. By 2008, we’re planning to add another 100 MW of wind power in Iowa, with the option of an additional 200 MW.

Can I use wind power at home or work?

While we can’t directly send wind-generated electricity to your house or business, you can support the growth of wind power – and solar and biomass energy – through our Second Nature™ program.

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How a wind turbine works

Simply stated, a wind turbine works the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, a turbine uses wind to make electricity.

The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity The electricity is sent through transmission and distribution lines to a substation, then on to homes, business and schools.

Wind turbine diagram

High-tech turbines equal low environmental impact. That’s why wind power is gaining public approval and generating increased awareness.

It is also becoming economically competitive with more conventional power sources – a fact that’s greatly improving its prospects as a viable energy source.

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Facts and figures about wind power

Wind power in the United States:

According to the American Wind Energy Association, wind plants now power the equivalent of 7.5 million average American homes.
Wind power has the potential to supply more than one and a half times the current electricity consumption of the United States.
The Midwest has some of the highest wind power potential on earth. Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin all are in the top 20 states for wind power potential.
Currently, wind power supplies about one percent of the nation’s total electricity production at a cost of about 2.5 cents more per kilowatt-hour, after federal tax credits, than electricity generated by standard sources.

Wind power in Iowa:

Iowa has more than 400 wind turbines with total nameplate capacity of more than 423 MW. This is enough power to generate electricity for more than 130,000 homes per year and avoid more than 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Iowa has the potential to produce 4.8 times its own annual electrical consumption through wind power.
Wind farms near Clear Lake and Storm Lake pay rent to 115 land owners to site their wind turbines. They pay about $2000 per turbine, for a total of $640,000 per year. They also pay $2 million per year in taxes to counties, money that is used for schools, roads and health care.
Iowa's wind turbines displace more than one billion pounds of carbon dioxide, (equivalent to the emissions of 175,000 cars or 100,000 sport utility vehicles); 5.9 million pounds of sulfur dioxide; 2.8 million pounds of nitrogen dioxide; and about 44 pounds of mercury.
The 80-megawatt Top of Iowa Wind Farm in Worth County produces enough electricity to power the homes of 24,000 Alliant Energy customers.

Wind power in Wisconsin:

In 2004, Wisconsin utilities operated 55 large wind turbines at five sites in Wisconsin, generating more than 100 million kWh.
The 20-turbine Monfort Wind Farm in Iowa County provides enough clean, renewable electricity to serve approximately 6,000 average Wisconsin homes each year.
Utility-scale wind generation in Wisconsin has grown by over 124 percent since 2000.

Wind power in Minnesota:

Minnesota ranks fourth nationwide with 615 MW of installed wind capacity, as of December 2004.
As of July 2005, there were 51 wind projects in Minnesota operating 683 turbines and producing more than 600 MW, enough to power approximately 230,000 homes.
A six-county area in southwest Minnesota is home to more than 70 percent of the state’s wind power production.
Farmers in Southern Minnesota who choose to lease their land to wind developers annually receive between $2,500 to $5,000 per turbine.

Wind turbines and wind farms:

A single utility-scale wind turbine can prevent the emission of 1,500 tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere per year. It would take a 500-acre forest to dissipate the same amount of CO₂.
An ideal location for a wind farm is one that has an average annual wind speed of at least 14 miles per hour.
One large, 200-foot tall wind turbine tower takes up about ¼ acre of land; 90 percent of the land remains accessible for farming or other development.

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