MRES chooses wind energy

We also are committed to installing wind power that is clean and renewable.

MRES has contracted for 40 megawatts of power from the Rugby Wind Project in north central North Dakota, which is being developed by Iberdrola Renewables, Inc., the world's largest provider of wind energy. The project will increase the wind power capacity of MRES to 82.4 megawatts.

When complete, the project will include 71 wind generators with a total capacity of 149 megawatts. The project is expected to begin commercial operation on Dec. 1, 2009.

MRES also derives wind energy from facilities near Worthington, Marshall, and Odin, all in the state of Minnesota. MRES owns the output of four wind turbines at Worthington, Minn., which can produce up to 3.7 megawatts of power. A collection of 19 wind turbines constructed near Marshall and Odin has the potential to produce up to 38.7 megawatts of wind-generated electricity for MRES members.

The Marshall project consists of nine wind turbines capable of producing 18.7 megawatts of energy. The energy produced at the site could power about 6,500 homes. MRES is purchasing all of the energy produced by the Marshall and Odin projects.

The Odin project, which began commercial operations in July of 2008, features 10 two-megawatt wind turbines, and generates about 70,000 megawatt-hours annually. 

Both the Marshall and Odin projects qualify for the State of Minnesota's Community-Based Energy Development program (C-BED), which Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty recommended and the Legislature established in 2007 to optimize local, regional, and state benefits from renewable energy development, and to facilitate widespread development of community-based renewable energy projects throughout the state. The Marshall project is the state's second approved C-BED project. The Odin project is the state's third C-BED project and the largest to date.

A copy of our C-BED Tariff can be found below.