Minnesota already has some of the nation's largest wind farms, for instance the Buffalo Ridge Wind Farm (225 MW), the Fenton Wind Farm (205.5 MW), the Nobles Wind Farm (201 MW) and the Bent Tree Wind Farm (201 MW).
The latest in line is 200-megawatt Prairie Rose Wind Farm project in Rock County that will begin with the construction in May.
The Prairie Rose Wind Farm will consist of 119 1.68mw GE wind turbines and the total costs of this project are estimated to be at $350 million.
Lease payments to project landowners in the Prairie Rose Wind Farm will amount to approximately $1.1 million annually or $22 million over the 20-year contract. This project, once the construction work begins, will account for 200-300 new jobs.
Wind power is the most important renewable energy source in Minnesota. Wind power now accounts for more than 10% of total electricity in Minnesota and the state is aware that without the strong wind power sector it won't be able to reach its renewable energy goal of 25 percent of state's electricity coming from renewable energy sources by 2025.
Increasing wind power capacity does not only mean more clean energy and diversified energy portfolio. It also means new clean energy jobs. According to American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) wind energy sector in Minnesota provides around 3,000 jobs annually.
