Power supplier signs agreement to purchase additional wind power (8/13/08)

Our community’s power supplier, Wisconsin Public Power Inc. (WPPI), has executed a power purchase agreement with Barton Windpower, LLC for the purchase of 30 megawatts (MW) of renewable wind energy from the Barton I project.

WPPI signed the agreement with Barton Windpower, LLC, an affiliate of IBERDROLA RENEWABLES, Inc., to purchase the renewable energy from a wind farm located in Worth County, Iowa. The Barton I project will harness wind resources using 40 turbines with a total capacity of 80 MW.

“This initiative will allow us to stabilize our future power costs and maintain a distributed renewable energy portfolio,” Assistant Vice President of Power Supply Resources Andy Kellen said.

Under the proposed power purchase agreement, WPPI anticipates acquiring approximately 100,650 megawatt hours annually. The Barton I project is currently under construction and is expected to enter commercial operation in December 2008.

WPPI continues to promote renewable energy generation and the positive environmental impacts it provides. Over three years, WPPI program funding for energy efficiency, conservation and the use of renewable energy will increase by more than 300 percent, from $2.38 million in 2006 to $9 million in 2009. Adding wind power as a renewable resource is a priority for WPPI, and wind power makes up a key component of WPPI’s environmental stewardship program.