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To: Didi who wrote (2278)	3/25/2003 4:39:25 PM
From: Didi	Respond to of 2505

BRK: MidAmerican Energy plans largest land-based wind farm midamericanenergy.com =============== >>>MidAmerican Energy Announces Plan to Build World’s Largest Wind Energy Project of its Kind; Plan Includes Extending Electric Rate Freeze Through 2010 DES MOINES, Iowa – March 25, 2003 – MidAmerican Energy Company announced today it plans to build 310 megawatts of wind energy generation facilities in Iowa, the largest land-based wind project in the world. MidAmerican also announced a plan to freeze its Iowa electric rates through 2010, while developing and constructing two other major generation projects already in progress. The $323 million wind project plus those two plants — the Greater Des Moines Energy Center (540 megawatts) in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, and the Council Bluffs Energy Center Unit 4 (790 megawatts) — represent an investment of approximately $1.4 billion in Iowa by MidAmerican. The three projects’ combined output will be 1,640 megawatts of new electric generation. Information from the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratories shows MidAmerican’s new wind project will be the largest land-based wind energy installation in the world. The project will consist of 180 to 200 wind turbines, each generating approximately 1.5 to 1.65 megawatts. A site has yet to be selected, but the facilities are expected to be located in the northwest or north-central portion of the state. The project also will require investment in associated energy transmission facilities. The first units are expected to come on-line by the end of 2004. The project should be completed by the end of 2006. “This is another significant investment by MidAmerican in Iowa’s energy future,” said Greg Abel, president of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company. “This project will bring additional renewable energy to Iowans while extending rate stability for our customers. We are adding renewable energy to our diversified generation mixture in a way that makes sense for our customers, our company and the state.” Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack has stated his goal for Iowa to become energy independent and to develop into a national leader in renewable energy. The governor labeled MidAmerican’s announcement a huge step toward achieving both goals. Although wind is an intermittent generation source, 310 megawatts of wind capacity provides enough electricity on average to power approximately 85,000 homes. “I have challenged regulators, business professionals and utility companies in Iowa to work toward achieving 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2010, which will require the addition of more than 500 megawatts of renewable energy facilities,” Vilsack said. “I am pleased that MidAmerican is taking a leadership role in that effort.” Legislative leaders praised the plan to add to Iowa’s renewable energy output. “Republican leaders believe the addition of renewable energy without an increase in rates is a win-win for Iowans,” said Speaker of the House Christopher Rants. “MidAmerican’s ability to build this historic project while holding the line on electric rates is a tremendous benefit for its customers.” MidAmerican’s Iowa customers have not seen an electric base rate increase since 1995. The proposed rate freeze means customers would go a minimum of 15 years with stable electric rates. “This is the type of bold proposal that will position Iowa for future growth,” said Mike Gronstal, Senate Minority Leader. “This is a major economic and environmental investment. The economic development impact and the additional renewable electric generation capacity make this announcement one with far-reaching implications for Iowa.” When the wind project is complete, MidAmerican Energy will own or have under contract in Iowa more than 435 megawatts of wind, biomass or hydroelectric energy — or 43 percent of Vilsack’s goal of 1,000 megawatts of renewables. Iowa currently produces more than 400 megawatts of renewable energy, and the governor says Iowa is third in the nation, behind California and Texas, in the production of wind energy. “Environmentally friendly wind energy is available in abundance in northwest and north-central Iowa,” said Floyd Barwig of the Iowa Energy Center in Ames, Iowa. “I applaud MidAmerican for tapping into this natural resource and for seeking environmentally sound solutions to our state’s growing energy needs.” MidAmerican also expects to invest up to an additional $300 million in environmental improvements to existing coal-fueled generating plants during the next seven years as part of the company’s compliance with President Bush’s Clear Skies Initiative. MidAmerican’s parent, MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, is already a world leader in renewable energy, with approximately 15 percent of its net-owned generation portfolio around the globe coming from green power. In addition, a 185-megawatt project under development in Southern California’s Imperial Valley will be the largest geothermal steam turbine operation in the United States. The company’s worldwide renewable power sources are wind, geothermal, hydroelectric and biomass. For MidAmerican to go forward with the wind project as planned, it must receive regulatory approvals and acceptable ratemaking rulings from the Iowa Utilities Board. Facilitating legislation also must be passed. A collection of fact sheets on the proposed wind facility; the Greater Des Moines Energy Center; Council Bluffs Energy Center; MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company map of global renewable energy generation facilities; a graphic depicting MidAmerican’s Iowa electric rates since 1984; a graphic of MidAmerican’s Iowa electric rates compared to inflation; MidAmerican’s investments in the state of Iowa and a computer-enhanced photograph of wind turbines which will be similar to the type of turbines MidAmerican will install are available.<<<