Feb 14 2011
PNE Wind USA, Chicago-based company established in 1995 and installed over 95 onshore and offshore wind power generation farms all over North America, has unveiled its plans to launch first of its kind commercial wind farm in Johnson County.
The wind farm first of its type in Iowa will comprise 10 to 20 wind turbines installed over 3,000 acres of land close to Solon.
The 30 MW wind farm is planned over a private lease land located in the townships of Graham, New Port and Cedar in the northeast part of the Johnson County. The company has already entered into a lease agreement with the owner of the land. The wind farm will comprise wind turbines that stand 260 feet tall from the base with rotor blades measuring 100 feet. Earlier PNE Wind received an approval from the Johnson County Board of Adjustment permitting the wind farm to construct a 198 feet meteorological tower away from 210th street and a mile east of Highway 1 to gauge the wind potential of the location. The power generated from the wind farm will meet the electricity requirement of over 9,000 homes. PNE Wind intends to sell the power generated from the wind farm to the local utility company and is yet to finalize the agreement.
According to RJ Moore, Johnson County’s assistant planning and zoning administrator the board is supportive of alternative energy usage and will permit the project if the negative impact issues such as shadow flicker and sound waves are nullified.