Iberdrola dedicates Missouri’s largest wind farm
The Farmers City Wind Power Project, near Tarkio in Atchinson County, comprises 73 Gamesa wind turbines capable of generating 146 megawatts of electricity.
The 14,000-acre facility will produce enough renewable energy to provide around 33,000 homes with electricity, according to its developer.
Speaking at the dedication ceremony, the presiding Atchison County Commissioner, Marlin Logan, said the project would have “substantial” benefits to the local area.
During its construction last year, the wind farm supported up to 150 jobs.
Commissioner Logan said: “As one of the first counties in the state to establish an enhanced enterprise zone, we were able to use powerful economic development tools to help attract the Farmers City Wind Project, which provided a real economic boost to the area and will be a symbol of energy produced right here at home.”
Payments
The wind farm is also supporting the economy in that part of northeast Missouri, through lease payments to 44 local landowners.
Mark Stacy, Director of the County’s Development Corporation, said: “Tax dollars generated from the project help Atchison County pay for roads, services and most notably schools.”
Iberdrola said less than 1% of the wind farm’s acreage was taken up by the wind turbines, leaving most of the land for use growing crops including corn and soybeans.
The Spanish-owned company, which has its US head office in Portland, Oregon, has developed more than 3,500MW of wind generating capacity in the US so far, with wind farms in 20 states.
Mark Stacy, development director at Iberdrola Renewables, said: “Farmers City is a wind farm that we can all be proud to celebrate. That so many people here today at a hand in, and we look forward to celebrating future projects with the community as well.”
-James Cartledge
