Turbine manufacturer Nordex USA has received an order with wind farm developer RPM Access for a 41-MW wind farm in Delaware County, Iowa, just weeks after finalizing a 75-MW order with EverPower Wind Holdings. The company’s new manufacturing plant in Jonesboro, Arkansas will produce the turbines. The contract includes a 10-year premium service contract, as well as the delivery, installation, commissioning, and testing of 17 Nordex N100 turbines.
The Elk Wind Farm is Nordex’ first project with RPM Access, and represents the second order Nordex has received since dedicating its plant in October. The project strengthens a growing local workforce in Arkansas that has reached over 70 new hires already, with the potential of increasing to 700 over the next four years, in accordance with the market. Elk Wind is a construction-ready project slated for completion in October 2011. RPM Access will own and operate the wind farm, and Central Iowa Power Cooperative will purchase the power via a 20-year power purchase agreement. Based in West Des Moines, RPM Access has initiated the development of six operating wind projects in Iowa, representing 370 MW, over the past ten years and has a robust project pipeline.
Iowa is the second largest generator of wind energy in the US, producing nearly 20% of its electricity from wind with over 3,500 MW installed. Iowa has been able to significantly reorder its energy portfolio by way of forward-thinking public policies, including a requirement that utilities offer the opportunity to purchase green energy to their customers.
